Matthew 20:16

Matthew 20:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
• New International Version (NIV)“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)So the last will be first, and the first last."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Context of Matthew 20:16

14Take what belongs to you and go, but I choose to give to this last man [hired] the same as I give to you. 15Am I not lawfully permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ So those who are last [in this world] shall be first [in the world to come], and those who are first, last.” 17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve [disciples] aside, and along the way He said to them, 18“Listen carefully: we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and they will [judicially] condemn Him and sentence Him to death,

Matthew 20:16 word by word

οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοιRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• the lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
• shall beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• calledκλητόςklētos · calledG2822
• butδέde · thenG1161
• fewὀλίγοςoligos · little/fewG3641
• chosenἐκλεκτόςeklektos · selectG1588

Cross-references for Matthew 20:16

• Matthew 8:11I say to you that many [Gentiles] will come from east and west, and will sit down [to feast at the table, and enjoy God’s promises] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven [because they accepted Me as Savior],
• Matthew 19:30But many who are first [in this world] will be last [in the world to come]; and the last, first.
• Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of the father?” The chief priests and elders replied, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
• Mark 10:31But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
• Luke 7:47Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
• Luke 13:28In that place there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger] when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out and driven away.
• Luke 15:7I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
• Luke 17:17Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten [of you] cleansed? Where are the [other] nine?
• John 12:19Then the Pharisees [argued and] said to one another, “You see that your efforts are futile. Look! The whole world has gone [running] after Him!”
• Romans 5:20But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more,
• Romans 9:30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith;
• Matthew 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it.
• Matthew 22:14For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”
• Luke 14:24For I tell you, not one of those who were invited [and declined] will taste my dinner.’ ”
• Romans 8:30And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God continually for this, that when you received the word of God [concerning salvation] which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its inherent, supernatural power in those of faith].

Commentaries on Matthew 20:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16So the last shall be first, and the first last - The Gentiles, who have been long without the true God, shall now enjoy all the privileges of the new covenant; and the Jews, who have enjoyed these from the beginning, shall now be dispossessed of them; for, because they here rejected the Lord, he also hath rejected them. Many are called, etc. - This clause is wanting in BL, one other, and in the Coptic and Sahidic versions. Bishop Pearce thinks it is an…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16So the last shall be first … - This is the moral or scope of the parable. “To teach this it was spoken.” Many that, in the order of time, are brought last into the kingdom, shall be first in the rewards. Higher proportionate rewards shall be given to them than to others. “To all justice shall be done.” To all to whom the rewards of heaven are promised they shall be given. Nothing shall be withheld that was promised. If, among this number who are called…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16See Matthew 5:19 and Matthew 8:11–12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. So the last shall be first, and the first last--that is, "Take heed lest by indulging the spirit of these murmurers at the penny given to the last hired, ye miss your own penny, though first in the vineyard; while the consciousness of having come in so late may inspire these last with such a humble frame, and such admiration of the grace that has hired and rewarded them at all, as will put them into the foremost place in the end." for many be called…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 20:16

• Chosen, or Elected
• Contracts
• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Predestination
• Reward
• Vineyard
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Choose
• Chosen
• Condemn
• Drink
• Idle
• Prepare
• Ransom
• Wrong
• Bible, the

Commentaries on Matthew 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings