Christian Standard Bible
Matthew 20:16
16“So the last will be first, and the first last.”
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’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous because I’m generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first last.” 17While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and said to them on the way, 18“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death.
Read all of Matthew 20Matthew 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 tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 19:30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
- Matthew 21:31Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
- Mark 10:31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
- Luke 7:47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
- Luke 13:28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out.
- 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 don’t need repentance.
- Luke 17:17Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
- John 12:19Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
- Romans 5:20The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
- Romans 9:30What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness — namely the righteousness that comes from faith.
- Matthew 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
- Matthew 22:14“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
- Luke 14:24For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.’”
- Romans 8:30And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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