But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Parallel translations
- WEB But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”
- BSB But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
- NKJV But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
- NASB But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
- 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.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Many who are first will be last, and the last first. God's kingdom overturns human rankings of status and importance.
Overview
This proverb caps the teaching on wealth and discipleship by reversing worldly hierarchies. Those esteemed great by human standards may rank low before God, and the humble may be exalted. It warns against pride and self-congratulation, even among Jesus' own followers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 19:30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
- Matt 20:16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- Luke 13:30And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
- Rom 9:30–33What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
- Acts 13:46–48Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
- Matt 21:31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
- Matt 8:11–12And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 18:11–14The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
- Luke 7:29–30And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
- Luke 7:40–47And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 10:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.