The meaning of this scripture...............?

Question

The Bible says "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Matthew 20:16

Can anyone explain what that scripture means?

Answer 1

Those who place themselves first over others in this life shall find themselves last in the next. Those who serve other people and make themselves last in this life shall be among the first in the next.

Answer 2

Christ was answering Peter's question in verse 27 of chapter 19. But as was so often the case, Christ took opportunity to teach about the Kingdom as well. (And in parables at that)
Peter was stating that he had nothing (no real physical posetions to speak of, no wealth or riches). Peter wanted to know what he would have? So Jesus explained throughout the next verses and into the next chapter (remember, there are no chapter breaks in the original Greek and Hebrew texts) that the reward was the Kingdom. Yes, Peter was not a rich man, but neither was Jesus (financially speaking). And how to people treat the poor in comparison to the wealthy? The wealthy get the best seats, the best cars, etc. They get to be FIRST. Right? Well, what happens when the poor, get the same or better than the rich? This is sort of the example we see in chapter 20 about the workers all being paid the same wages even though some worked all day while others only a very short time.
This goes hand in hand with the scripture (1 Cor. 1:26-29) that states: "... But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base (insignificant or lowly) things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are..." See the world sees the poor people, as weak and lowly. Most "worship" riches. If you are rich you get the best. But also, if you are in line with God's way, His thinking and commands, you are also looked down upon by the world, and even many other religions that think they are better (or the athiests who think those who obey God are foolish). But God, you see, will use the humble instead of the proud and mighty. He will use those the world would deam weak, instead of the those the world would deam strong. Then, the glory goes to HIM, and not to man. Thus... the last ( in the worlds eyes) will be FIRST, and the first (in the worlds eyes) will be LAST. I hope that helps. =)

Answer 3

Matthew 20:16
Verse 16
So the last shall be first, and the first last.


It was with this declaration that the parable began and ended. The grand lesson is that men do not deserve or merit salvation. In the case of the laborers, those who worked all day did not deserve their pay after having thrown it on the ground. That act forfeited their further right to it. In spite of their lack of merit, the good householder required them to pick it up, thus giving it to them in spite of their forfeiture. The ones who labored only an hour did not deserve their pay either. They had certainly done nothing to merit a day's wages. Not even their wonderful "attitude" entitled them to a day's pay. Their reward was as much of grace as was that of the bitter "firsters"! Some of the people of our own day who fancy that their sweet and pious attitude in some way entitles them to God's favor should take note of this. The householder had every right to have cut them off with a trifle instead of a whole day's pay.

People simply do not and cannot MERIT salvation. People do not merit salvation either by works or by attitudes of trust. The meek and trustful spirit is to be desired; so also is the worker; but neither class of people, nor yet another class combining the virtues of both, can in any degree merit salvation. It is all of grace and not of debt; nor does that exclude obedience.

Answer 4

John 6:39,40,44; The apostles raised up at the last day 14:3; when a place is prepared for them as Michael of Jude 9; and Dan.12:1-13 end times with holy angels cast Satan and 1/3 unholy angels out of heaven as the enemies of Christ, God, the holy angels and apostles. Rev.12:3,4,6-11,12 [ enemies cast down, SATAN HAS A SHORT TIME IN THE END TIMES ]; ENEMIES of God and Christ and the end time apostles that were to spread the word is cast down to footstool earth [ as foretold Matt.22:42-44; Acts 2:27-35; Heb.1:1-13; Rom 16:20 apostles expect Satan to be under their feet ]; Mark 13:27; Heb.12:22-24; Rev.3:12; THE HEAVENLY Michael there to the last 1Thes.4:15-17; The caught up to be with Jesus.

So of the holy prophets who came first, 2Pet.3:1-9,13; the holy apostles who came last will be raised up in end times for the last day Rev.20:1-6,12,13 [ No Satan 1000 years ]; The raised up or caught up as the heavenly for the new heavens are with Jesus at his coming 1Cor.15:22-28,51-53; as told the heavenly first for the new heavens and the earthly for the new earth. Rev.21:1-5 [ ALL IS MADE NEW ];

Answer 5

When we are in heaven, we will be really surprized at who is "over much" and who is over a little. It will probably be some guy who never got any recognition for the prayer work and the missionary work he did right in his own neighborhood. We'll say "That Guy? But what about this televangelist or this great Man of Faith? God's economy is totally different than ours. All those mamas that prayed for their children out there in the streets They will be queens! The big shot guys in suits will be the janitors in heaven. Kind of cool. So it's best to just humbly do what God commands and leave the rewarding to Him.

Answer 6

Its like eating ice cream. I am 63, I was the first in my living family that ate ice cream. I enjoy it a little bit, I am not very enthusiastic about ice cream.

My 3 year old grandson is the most recent person in my family to eat ice cream. He is like the last in our family to be introduced to ice cream. He gets very excited about the mentioning of ice cream and he loves it more than any of us older folks.

The first time you find out that you are going to Heaven, you are very excited about it, then ...... even it, becomes old hat.

But a new Christian, being the last person in his church to be born again into a personality of forgiveness and an assurance from the Holy Spirit that he is going to Heaven -- now he is very enthusiastic and very very happy about it, even more happy than those who became saved 20 40 or 50 years ago.


It works the same when you first get a new job. You are excited at first and very curteous to everyone. Then after a while you are not so excited about your job. Which time in your life were you more friendly to customers and more appreciative, and maybe even a better worker?

Answer 7

I call it Jesus' Upside-down logic. Look at the beginning of the "sermon on the mount" where Jesus presents a string of statements which defy popular thinking about who is happy or blessed. Much of Jesus' teaching can be summarized with passages like the one you cited.

The effect of the teaching is that God does not look at people through human eyes. The person who truly pleases God is probably not the one that most people notice, but the one who quietly goes around serving. He doesn't care if anyone notices what he does.

Specifically, the passage in Matthew 20 is about God's rewards. It comes on the heels of a parable which tells of those who worked only an hour receiving the same reward as those who worked all day.

In our time... The preacher and the custodian, which is noticed in this world? Jesus' parable indicates that the rewards will be equal AND CRITICIZES THE "RELIGIOUS ELITE," the scribes and Pharisees of his day, FOR expecting to receive more than those who came later or did less...

Answer 8

meaning those who may think they have it together and really don't will be last or won't even make it to heaven.My study bible says "there will be many surprises in God's kingdom. some of those who are despised on earth will be greatly honored in the kingdom. those who are considered influential and powerful on earth will be excluded from the kingdom. Read Luke 13:24-30. I believe that everyone who may appear to be doing well for God really aren't and only God knows the heart of man and there He judges us from, we judge from the outside. 1 Samuel 16:7

Answer 9

Yes, dearest, I can. Look around at those who know and believe in Jesus. Quietly. Without riches, or fanfare. They are poor, crippled, they live in misfortune. Their lives are difficult, they are the worst of circumstances. But they believe and will not give up their love of God, no matter how hard their lives are.

In His kingdom, these will be first. The will be shining, well, beautiful, healthy, perfect, loved, they will stand first in line, they will be given positions of honor, they will be brought in first and given great rewards for their faithfulness.

Those in life who had everything, riches, wealth, power, but scorned the Lord...they will be last. They won't even see the kingdom.

Answer 10

I believe that the least on this earth will be exalted over the greater ones even in heaven. So all the small insignificant humble quiet people will be over the ones that were over them. One of the beattitudes in Matthew says "blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth"