Bible Strands
Luke 13:30
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks this declaration in Luke 13 immediately after describing a diverse crowd reclining at the table in God’s kingdom, and just before Pharisees warn Him about Herod’s plot.
The words — ἔσχατοι (eschatoi) means last, and πρῶτοι (prōtoi) means first; the Greek syntax places these terms in direct opposition to mark a reversal of expected standing.
The thread — This exact reversal appears in Matthew 19:30 and Matthew 20:16, where Jesus applies the same principle to kingdom inclusion.
Why it lands — The text states that human ranking or religious precedence does not determine priority in God’s kingdom, requiring readers to abandon self-promotion and accept divine ordering.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Cross-references
- Matthew 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
- Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Matthew 21:28 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.’
- Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
- Matthew 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
- Matthew 8:11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.