Matthew 19:30
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
BSB
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.
By 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.
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.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Matthew 20:16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
leads to
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
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.
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.
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
Through
Mark 10:31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
leads to
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
Through
Luke 13:30And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
leads to
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.’
