Last shall be first

[Giaour]

Matthew 20 verse 16

[None]

Good topic, I'd like to see opinions on this also.

[Giaour]

I know it speaks of humility but was He using it to tell us;

that those saved during the last days will be first in the kingdom?

or those who are saved later in life will be first?

or because God came first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles that the Gentiles will be the first to enter in the kingdom?

or the last person to die will be the first resurrected?

or the angels were created first and man last which means man will rule over the angels?

Or none of these and that we are just to be satisfied with what God gives us?

Or am I just reading too much into this?

[None]

I always thought it meant that the least known child of God will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven and the person with the greatest worldly popularity would be the least in the Kingdom on Heaven. Or something along those lines.

Humility is a key factor.

From here:

4)You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5)Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6)But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble."

[damo1]

from damo1

MATTHEW 20 VERSE 16

in this way the last wil be first and the first wil be last

i had a talk with my pastor as i have heard pastors speak of this topic

you can also look at matthew 24 30+31

and you can also read matthew 20

parable of the workers in the vinyard

read from verse 1 to verse 16

as it also says this in the parable of the workers in the vinyard

so the last wil be first and the first wil be last as the owner was wanting to be fair as in this story the men that wear hired last got payed the same wages as every one else

yet i also am only going by what i heard in the sermons i sat in under this topic and one pastor said even if one person gives his heart at the last moment when our christ comes back for us he to wil be pulled up in the cloud with every one else

yet if some one can correct me i wil be intrested yet i was told to say it as it is said in matthew 20 verse 16

so i hope this helps

from damo1

[EricH]

The context of the passage is Jesus' parable regarding the landowner who hired workers at various times during the day, but then chose to pay them all the same wage regardless of the time they labored (Matthew 20:1-15). Jesus was showing that the economy of God's kingdom is very different than the economy of the world. Those that worked in the vineyard clearly did not have servants hearts. They expected to to be recompensed for the number of hours they worked. True biblical service does not take that into account. It is not the amount of time one serves that determines eternal reward, it is the condition of one's heart. Thus in God's kingdom there will be no difference between the one who served later, and the one who served earlier. God will judge them by their heart. The first will literally be last and the last first, because they will not be evaluated based on the amount of time they served.

[peaches]

Eric, i was with you up to the last sentence. I dont understand how those who laboured first get to be last. i mean, arent we all at the same level?

[EricH]

Eric, i was with you up to the last sentence. I dont understand how those who laboured first get to be last. i mean, arent we all at the same level?

The statement the "first will be last and the last first" is a way of saying that in terms of "time in service" there is no difference

[peaches]

so if there is no diff, how are the first last and the last first? why make that distinction?

[EricH]

so if there is no diff, how are the first last and the last first? why make that distinction?

I believe it is just a manner of speech that indicates that rewards in the kingdom are not based on the length of time served