Matthew 19:30
in Matthew 19But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last.
KJV
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
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This verse in Matthew 19
Commentary
15 notes on this verseBy this He exhorts those that come late to the heavenly word, to haste to ascend to perfection before many whom they see to have grown old in the faith. This sense may also overthrow those that boast to have been educated in Christianity by Christian parents, especially if those parents have filled the Episcopal see, or the office of Priests or Deacons in the Church; and hinder them from desponding who have entertained the Christian doctrines more newly.
This site's exposition
an hundredfold
on Matthew 19:29-30
Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold widens Peter's promise to every disciple who makes the same costly choice the rich young ruler refused, and shall inherit everlasting life closes the whole encounter on the very question the young man opened it with, now answered not by keeping commandments but by forsaking all for Christ's sake. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first stands as the chapter's summary line and the hinge into the parable of the laborers that opens chapter 20, a reversal the rich man's sorrow and Peter's sacrifice have both just illustrated in their own persons.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It may also be referred in particular to the rich man, who seemed to be first, by his fulfilment of the precepts of the Law, but was made last by his preferring his worldly substance to God. The holy Apostles seemed to be last, but by leaving all they were made first by the grace of humility. There are many who having entered upon good works, fall therefrom, and from having been first, become last.
(Verse 29, 30.) And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess eternal life. But many who are first shall be last, and the last first. This passage is in agreement with that saying in which the Savior speaks: 'I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' (Matthew 10:34) Therefore, those who for the sake of the faith of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel have despised all affections, as well as riches and worldly pleasures: they will receive a hundredfold and possess eternal life. In connection with this statement, some introduce the idea of a thousand years after the resurrection, saying that then a hundredfold of all the things we have given up will be restored to us, and eternal life will be given: not understanding that if in other matters there is a worthy promise, in the case of wives there appears a shameful thing; so that one who leaves one for the Lord will receive a hundred in the future. Therefore, this is the meaning: Whoever renounces earthly things for the sake of the Savior will receive heavenly things, which will be suitable and proportionate to the merit of the renunciation, as if a small number were compared to a hundred. Thus the Apostle says, he who has renounced only one house and the small fields of one province: As if having nothing, and possessing all things (2 Corinthians 6:10).
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 64 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
When He had then raised the spirit of all, and had persuaded them to feel confidence both with respect to themselves and to all the world, He added, that "Many that were first shall be last, and last first." But this although it be spoken also without distinction concerning many others likewise, it is spoken also concerning these men and concerning the Pharisees, who did not believe, even as before also He had said, "Many shall come from east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out." Then He adds also a parable, as training those who had fallen short to a great forwardness.
The Medieval Church2 voices
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. Christ is suggesting here the Jews and the Gentiles. For the Jews, who were first, became last, while the Gentiles, who were last, were put first. But so that you might …
But because many with what zeal they take up the pursuit of virtue, do not with the same complete it; but either grow cool, or fall away rapidly; it follows, But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Consequently he introduces an incidental remark: and many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Those who leave something for Christ, or everything, if they live negligently, will they have this reward? I say no, because they have taken it …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But many first - Many of those who were first called, shall be last - Shall have the lowest reward: those who came after them being preferred before them: and yet possibly both the first and the last may be saved, though with different degrees of glory.
But many that are first shall be last,....
Christ did not take his leave of Galilee till he had done his work there, and then he departed thence. Note, As Christ's faithful ministers are not taken out of the world, so they are not removed from any place, till they have finished their testimony in that place, Rev. xi.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
We must be saved if we would serve the Lord. We cannot serve God in an unsaved condition. "They that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is vain for them to attempt service while they are still at enmity against God. The Lord wants not enemies to wait upon Him, nor slaves to grace His Throne. We must first be saved—and salvation is all of Grace. "By Grace are you saved through faith." After we are saved and as the result of salvation, we serve. Saved—we serve!
The first thing that we learn in these verses is the immense danger which riches bring on the souls of those who possess them. The Lord Jesus declares that “a rich man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.” He goes even further.
The first thing that we learn in these verses is the immense danger which riches bring on the souls of those who possess them. The Lord Jesus declares that “a rich man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.” He goes even further. He uses a proverbial saying to strengthen his assertion: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” Few of our Lord’s sayings sound more startling than this; few run more counter to the opinions and prejudices of mankind; few are so little believed; yet this saying is true, and worthy of all acceptation. Riches, which all desire to obtain—riches, for which men labor and toil and become gray before their time—riches are the most perilous possession. They often inflict great injury on the soul; they lead men into many temptations; they engross men’s thoughts and affections; they bind heavy burdens on the heart, and make the way to heaven even more difficult than it naturally is. Let us beware of the love of money. It is possible to use it well, and do good with it; but for one who makes a right use of money, there are thousands who make a wrong use of it, and do harm both to themselves and others. Let the worldly man, if he will, make an idol of money, and count him happiest who has most of it. But let theChristian, who professes to have “treasure in heaven” set his face, like a flint, against the spirit of the world in this matter. Let him not worship gold. He is not the best man in God’s eyes who has most money, but he who has most grace. Let us pray daily for rich men’s souls. They are not to be envied, they are deeply to be pitied. They carry heavy weights in the Christian course; they are of all men the least likely so to run as to obtain.( 1 Corinthians 9:24 ). Their prosperity in this world is often their destruction in the world to come.
We must be saved if we would serve the Lord. We cannot serve God in an unsaved condition. "They that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is vain for them to attempt service while they are still at enmity against God. The Lord wants not enemies to wait upon Him, nor slaves to grace His Throne. We must first be saved—and salvation is all of Grace. "By Grace are you saved through faith." After we are saved and as the result of salvation, we serve. Saved—we serve! He that is saved becomes a child of God and then he renders a child-like service in his Father's house. That service is also all of Grace! He serves not under the Law of the old commandment, "This do, and you shall live," for he is not under the Law, but under Grace. Therefore, sin shall not have dominion over him, but Grace shall have dominion over him— and he shall seek to serve the Lord and please Him all the days of his life. When we are saved, we must never forget that we are saved that we may serve—made free from sin, that we may become servants of God. David says, "O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid: You have loosed my bonds." Because our bonds are loosed, we are under new bonds, bonds of love which bind us to the service of the Most High. Now, when we come thus to be servants, we must not forget that we are saved men and women, for if we begin to fancy that while we serve, we are working to win life by our merits, we shall get upon legal ground. And a child of God on legal ground is going backwards—he is departing from his true standing before God. But remember, "You are not under the Law, but under Grace." But if you begin to forget your indebtedness to your Savior, not only for eternal life, but for everything you are, have and do, you will be like the Galatians who began in the Spirit, but sought to be made perfect by the flesh.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Πολλοὶ | polloi | Many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔσονται | esontai | will be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| πρῶτοι | protoi | first | G4413 → | 152 times |
| ἔσχατοι, | eschatoi | last, | G2078 → | 52 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔσχατοι | eschatoi | last | G2078 → | 52 times |
| πρῶτοι.¶ | protoi | first. | G4413 → | 152 times |
ΠολλοὶMany
polloiG4183 →367 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔσονταιwill be
esontaiG1510 →2333 times
πρῶτοιfirst
protoiG4413 →152 times
ἔσχατοι,last,
eschatoiG2078 →52 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔσχατοιlast
eschatoiG2078 →52 times
πρῶτοι.¶first.
protoiG4413 →152 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 20:16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
it leads to
- Mark 10:31
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Luke 13:28–30
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.
- Luke 15:7
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
- Romans 8:30
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- Mark 10:31
Through
Mark 10:31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
it leads to
- Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 13:30
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
- Matthew 20:16
Through
Luke 13:30And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
it leads to
- Matthew 21:28–31
But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
- Matthew 21:28–31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Matthew
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2221: “The First, Last—And the Last, First” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 64; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Rabanus Maurus, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Remigius of Rheims, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.