Matthew 19:30 kjv
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Matthew 19:30 nkjv
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:30 niv
But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:30 esv
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:30 nlt
But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Matthew 19 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 10:31 | "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." | Exact parallel in Mark. |
| Lk 13:30 | "Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." | Similar principle in a different context (narrow door). |
| Lk 18:14 | "...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Principle of humility leading to exaltation (Pharisee/Tax). |
| Mt 23:12 | "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." | Warning against self-exaltation. |
| Lk 14:11 | "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Exaltation for the humble in banquet etiquette. |
| Jas 4:10 | "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." | Direct call to humility for divine exaltation. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you..." | Humility under God's hand leads to timely exaltation. |
| Isa 29:19 | "...the meek will obtain fresh joy in the Lord..." | Joy for the humble and poor. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways..." | God's ways are higher than human ways (divine paradox). |
| 1 Cor 1:26-28 | "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise... God chose what is foolish..." | God chooses the seemingly "last" of the world. |
| Lk 1:52-53 | "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate..." | Mary's Magnificat: God's pattern of reversal. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Warning against pride, linked to the "first" becoming "last". |
| Prov 29:23 | "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor." | Humility leads to honor. |
| Mt 20:1-16 | "So the last will be first, and the first last." | Parable of Laborers directly illustrating this verse. |
| Mt 19:23-26 | "...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter..." | Immediate context: rich difficult to enter Kingdom, linked to pride/self-reliance. |
| Mt 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." | Beatitudes: Valuing the humble, those empty of self-importance. |
| Phil 2:8-9 | "...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death... Therefore God has highly exalted him..." | Christ's humility leading to ultimate exaltation. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | "He also told this parable... The Pharisee... and the tax collector..." | Illustrates the "first" (Pharisee) and "last" (tax collector) reversal. |
| Lk 6:20-26 | "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God... But woe to you who are rich..." | Contrast between present poverty/wealth and future spiritual standing. |
| Rev 2:9 | "...I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)..." | Spiritual richness despite worldly poverty. |
| Mk 9:35 | "...If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." | True greatness is servant leadership, aligning with "first" becoming "last". |
| Gen 3:19 | "...by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread..." | Earthly toil and labor, providing a contrasting view to easy reward for the "first". |
| Ex 4:11 | "...Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" | God's sovereign control over abilities and perceived status. |
Matthew 19 verses
Matthew 19 30 Meaning
This verse encapsulates a profound spiritual principle: God's valuation and reward system often invert human expectations and hierarchies. Those who are considered prominent, privileged, or self-important by human standards (the "first") may find themselves in a humble position in God's Kingdom, while those who are humble, overlooked, or considered insignificant (the "last") may be elevated. It highlights that true standing before God is determined by humility, faithfulness, and His sovereign grace, not by outward appearance, initial status, or human merit.
Matthew 19 30 Context
This verse immediately follows Peter's question to Jesus after the rich young ruler incident in Matthew 19. Jesus had just stated the difficulty for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 19:23-26). Peter, noting that he and the other disciples had left everything to follow Jesus, asked what their reward would be (Mt 19:27). Jesus assured them they would receive a hundredfold reward and eternal life (Mt 19:29). Matthew 19:30 then serves as a powerful summary statement or principle, preparing the disciples for the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in chapter 20 (Mt 20:1-16), which vividly illustrates how the "first" might be "last" and the "last" "first" in God's gracious economy. Historically, in Jewish culture, wealth was often perceived as a sign of God's blessing, and adherence to the Law as a path to merit. This verse, therefore, directly challenges assumptions about status, merit, and reward, both among the wealthy elite and among those who thought their early commitment guaranteed them a superior place in the Kingdom.
Matthew 19 30 Word analysis
- "But" (δὲ - de): This Greek conjunction introduces a strong contrast or transition. It signals a shift from the discussion of disciples' reward to a broader, paradoxical truth that often counters human expectations.
- "many" (πολλοὶ - polloi): Implies that this is a widespread principle, not an isolated instance. It doesn't mean all will reverse, but that a significant number will. This highlights that God's judgment and rewards are often contrary to what humans assume.
- "who are first" (πρῶτοι - prōtoi): In Greek, protos denotes being "first in time, place, rank, or importance." In this context, it refers to those who are preeminent in human eyes—perhaps early converts, those with apparent religious zeal, socially privileged, self-righteous, or those who consider themselves superior based on their works or lineage.
- "will be" (ἔσονται - esontai): The future indicative form of "to be." It indicates a certainty of future outcome or state, emphasizing that this divine reversal is a coming reality in God's economy and judgment.
- "last" (ἔσχατοι - eschatoi): In Greek, eschatos means "last in time, place, rank, or importance." This refers to those who are humble, lowly, marginalized, latecomers to faith, or those overlooked or scorned by the world's standards.
- "and many who are last will be first": This part completes the chiasmic structure, directly echoing and confirming the complete inversion. It underscores that this principle works both ways, offering hope to the humble and a warning to the proud. The balance between "first" and "last" implies a total re-evaluation of worth based on God's divine standards rather than human ones. This divine economy values humility, sacrifice, and sincere faith, elevating those often disregarded by the world.
Matthew 19 30 Bonus section
This statement of divine reversal, particularly in the form of "first shall be last and last shall be first," is a hallmark teaching of Jesus, appearing in all three Synoptic Gospels. It stands in direct polemic against any notion of salvation or status being earned through human effort, social standing, or hereditary privilege, which was a prevalent cultural belief, particularly among the Jewish elite of Jesus' day. It underscores that entry into and prominence in the Kingdom of God are based solely on God's sovereign grace and individual response of humility and faith, challenging any perceived hierarchy based on earthly success, early adherence, or social status. The emphasis on "many" implies a broad application of this principle across various situations and individuals within God's dealings with humanity. This is a critical point for understanding spiritual reward and judgment: God's perspective is entirely different from the world's.
Matthew 19 30 Commentary
Matthew 19:30 distills a foundational truth about God's Kingdom: His values and judgment frequently reverse human expectations. It's not a universal pronouncement that everyone who is literally "first" in an earthly sense will be "last," but rather a profound warning against spiritual pride and a comforting promise to the humble. The "first" represents those who are outwardly prominent, boastful, or self-righteous, especially those who rely on their own merit, status, or early arrival to presume a greater reward or favor from God. The "last" embodies those who are humble, often overlooked, perceived as insignificant, or those who come to faith later, characterized by genuine humility and dependence on God's grace. The verse reveals that God honors a heart of true devotion, humility, and willingness to sacrifice for Him, above any human-perceived rank or merit. It served as a vital corrective to the disciples' potentially self-seeking inquiry about rewards and foreshadowed the grace-based economy exemplified in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. For example, the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14) powerfully illustrates this: the outwardly "righteous" Pharisee, who considered himself "first," was humbled, while the penitent Tax Collector, considered "last," was justified.