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Bible Question:
What does it mean the first shall be last and the last shall
be first?
Bible Answer:
The phrase the "first will be last; and the last, first"
occurs in Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31, and Luke
13:30. But we will focus on the Matthew passage, since it provides
the key to understanding the phrase.
Background.
In order to understand the phrase, it is important to understand
what happened before and after Jesus' statement. Jesus had
just finished telling His disciples that it was very difficult
for a rich man to enter heaven. His disciples were surprised
at His statement because the Jews believed that giving money
gained favor with God. Since rich men can give more money,
they can gain greater favor with God by giving more than
other people.
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And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to
you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God." And when the disciples
heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then
who can be saved?" And looking upon them Jesus said
to them, “With men this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible.” Then Peter answered
and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything
and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And
Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you
who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son
of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall
sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers
or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for
My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much,
and shall inherit eternal life. But many who are first
will be last; and the last, first." (NASB) Matt.
19:28-30
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So Peter reminded the Lord that they had left everything to
follow Him and asks, " . . . what then will there be
for us?" Peter is worried. He seems to be asking, "Have
we given enough?" Jesus encouraged Peter and His disciples
and then made the statement, the "first will be last;
and the last, first."
Meaning.
Jesus then proceeded to explain His statement by using a parable.
The parable is about a farmer who hired different men throughout
the day to work his field. Each man agreed to be paid a certain
amount of money for his work.
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