English Standard Version
Matthew 20:16
16So 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.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Context of Matthew 20:16
14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last." 17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18"See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered 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, many will come from east and west and recline at table 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 the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go 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 tell 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 and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
- Luke 15:7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
- Luke 17:17Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
- John 12:19So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."
- Romans 5:20Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
- Romans 9:30What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;
- Matthew 7:13"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
- Matthew 22:14For many are called, but few are chosen."
- Luke 14:24For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
- Romans 8:30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries