But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”
- KJV But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
- BSB But many who are first will be last, and the last will be 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 will be last who are first; and first who are last.
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Luke 13:30Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”
- Rom 9:30–33What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
- Acts 13:46–48Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
- Matt 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
- Matt 8:11–12I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,
- Luke 18:11–14The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
- Luke 7:29–30When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
- Luke 7:40–47Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
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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.