…what is that to thee? Follow thou me. John 21:22
These are powerful words. Instructions we can use every day.
WHAT IS THAT TO THEE? FOLLOW THOU ME.
Jesus said these words to Apostle Peter after His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus had just told Peter in ver.19 “…by what death he should glorify God.”
Then in ver. 21 “Peter seeing him (the disciple whom Jesus loved following), saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22.” Jesus saith unto him. “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.”
No matter what others do and what God requires of them, that is not our business. We have our own responsibilities to God.
Similarly Jesus spoke this parable in Matthew Chapter 20:
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
So in the 13th, verse, the goodman says he fulfilled his agreement and everybody received exactly what they bargained for: One day’s work for one penny.
Even though some labored all day, some less and still some a single hour, all were paid the same.
So likewise, we all have our own race to run. Long or short, the end, if successful, will be the same: Eternal Life in Heaven.
And in our daily life, no matter what we see others doing, we can apply what Jesus told Peter…what is that to me? I just need to follow Christ.