What was meant when Jesus said, "The first shall be last and the last shall be first."?

Answer 1

The proud will be made humble and the humble will be exalted. Anyone who thinks s/he is the best will be the least in the kingdom of God. Humility is a virtue.

Answer 2

Jesus asked a rich man to give up all his possessions and follow Him, but he did not. The disciples, however, have given up everything to follow Him. So then Peter asks when will they get something.

So basically the "first shall be last and the last shall be first" statement means that it seems they don't have anything now but later they will be first by having a special place in eternal life.
And those who seem like they are first and above all with everything, will later be last and have nothing.

I'm pretty sure this is what it means. Hope it helps and is understandable!

Answer 3

I have come to understand the meaning of this to be explained by the following .... Look at life on earth as temporary. All that we have is the here and now and what we are getting in the future is typically how we define ourselves as humans. More animalistic really but it's true, we grade ourselves on the material we have, the money we can spend, the new truck bob bought and a million other instances in daily life where we let life on earth dictate our actions. I believe this is one of the simple reminders Jesus left for us to help keep us focused on what matters. The kingdom of God. The people who have the money and the power may often be first here on earth but soon they will find that their worldly possesions bring them no cuts in line at the pearly gates. Jesus doesn't care if you drive a Mercedes or what your salary is. Not to say that there is anything wrong with being succesful. It's just that money, power, and greed go hand and hand and they are quick roads that lead us to fall away from God. I can think of two other biblical quotes that are synonomous. One is "It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God" as well as "The meek shall inherit the earth". The Latter being more cut and dry I take to mean when life on earth as we know it ends the persecuted, down trodden, poor, hungry, weak, and powerless will be renewed and they will flourish. The prior is a little deeper. Not to insult your intelligence but the scripture is a metaphor. Long ago the Kingdoms in the middle east had an entrance for a camel to enter but in order to enter, the camel had to lower down on all fours and all but scoot through the entrance. It wasn't impossible but it was difficult. As is it difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven because he is corrupted with greed and selfishness. I often remind myself of this weekly when again I fail to win the lottery... Thoughts?

Answer 4

My opinion is that some people who are first meaning the richest who take decisions for the whole world who have great power but noone actually knows what they have done so to get this power over how many dead bodies have they stepped, they are going to come last in God's eyes. Though some people who might be homeless and seem meeningless but have done no harm they are going to come first to His eyes.

Answer 5

The most practical explanation applies to God's traditional the relationship with the Jews, versus the Gentiles.

God revealed himself FIRST to the Jews, who rejected him.

Only THEN did God pour out his graces on the Gentiles, who accepted him, and became the new "Chosen People" by nature of that grace.

Now, the first ARE last, and the last ARE first.

Answer 6

I can liken this question to a large family and the strong ones will always be at the table first,
and the weak ones will always be last.
The same in life the haves will get more and the have knots will get less. Jesus is saying he will reverse that situation.

Answer 7

If you look at when the statement was made by him in context then that will be easier to understand, he said that when some of his apostles were arguing over who would be the greatest in the kingdom, so what was he trying to explain to them? He was trying to convey to them that if they truly wanted to be great they would need to show humility and in this he showed the example for Jesus was a great man yet he was never proud of his position he always felt pity for the lowly and helped them. So instead of looking for prominence they were to be lowly and empathetic toward others in this way they would become great not by seeking power and prominence.

Answer 8

asking us to practice FILO and not FIFO?
"just joking..."

you must read the whole context of what he was talking about.. if not mistaken... he was addressing and referring to people who strives for earthly glory (the first) and neglect heaven grace... and comparing this group with those who do not have earthly wealth (the last), but have heaven grace...

that is why he said, the FIRST will be last and the LAST will be first.

That is why, a lot of ppl read the bible and use it to make excuse for themselves...

The bible said "do not consume the meat of animals with cleft hooves (pig)".... but the church being anti-christ, put words in his mouth and said Jesus said "what goes into the mouth is not important, but what comes out is."

Aiyoyoyo... what dumb idiots! Jesus was talking in context of "be careful of what one speak!" FULL STOP!!! but christians just want to twist and turn so they can eat pork. I stopped eating pork after I open my heart instead of believing "blindly" what the church teaches...

Answer 9

It has to do with being humble or too proud, full of self-pride, those who pushed others aside to be first, or rewarded, shall be last, and the last are the humble ones, who stepped aside for others, because they are last one to recieve or to ask for anything, they shall made first, as God has seen their humility.

Answer 10

Those here on earth who are first and have the most (the rich will find it hard to enter Heaven, of course there are exceptions) will be last. The poor, the needy, the broken hearted, who have faith of course, will be first in Heaven.