Bible Strands
Matthew 19:30
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks this statement immediately after promising a hundredfold return and eternal life to those who abandon family and property for his name.
The words — πρῶτοι (prōtoi) means "first," and ἔσχατοι (eschatoi) means "last."
The thread — This reversal pattern appears in Matthew 20:16, Luke 13:30, and Mark 10:31.
Why it lands — The text states that initial standing does not guarantee final position, nor does low status preclude advancement. It asks readers to abandon merit-based calculations and accept that divine reward operates outside human ranking.
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
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Cross-references
- Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Luke 13:30 And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
- Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
- Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
- Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
- Romans 5:20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
- Romans 9:30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
- 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.
- Luke 7:29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
- Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.