Tree of Life Version
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 is yours and go. But I want to give this last guy the same as you. 15Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ “So the last will be first, and the first last.” 17Now as Yeshua was going up to Jerusalem, He took the Twelve aside privately; and on the way he told them, 18“Look, we’re going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the ruling kohanim and Torah scholars. 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 8:11Moreover, I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and they will recline at table with Abraham and 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 the father?” “The first,” they said. Yeshua said to them, “Amen, I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God.
- Mark 10:31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
- Luke 7:47For this reason I tell you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven—for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.
- Luke 13:28“There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
- Luke 15:7I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one repenting sinner than over the ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
- Luke 17:17Then Yeshua answered and said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
- John 12:19So the Pharisees said to each other, “You see that you can’t do anything. Look, the whole world has taken off after Him!”
- Romans 5:20Now the Torah came in so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace overflowed even more—
- Romans 9:30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—that is, a righteousness of faith.
- Matthew 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through 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 will 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 2:13For this reason, we also thank God constantly that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is—the word of God, which does its work 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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