There are several ways in which “the first will be last and the last first” holds true.

Of course, Scripture also teaches that there are different rewards in heaven for different services, but the ultimate reward of eternal life will be given to all equally, on the basis of God’s grace in Christ Jesus. The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39–43), whose life of service was limited to a moment of repentance and confession of faith in Christ, received the same reward of eternal life as did Timothy, who served God for years. The most direct interpretation, based on the content of the parable, is that all believers, no matter how long or how hard they work during this lifetime, will receive the same basic reward: eternal life. Jesus ends the parable with the statement, “The last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). In other words, they saw their own labor as worthy of compensation but considered their companions’ labor to be inferior and less worthy of reward. The story concerns some laborers who complain that others, who did not work as long as they, were paid an equal amount. In the chapter following Jesus’ statement that the first will be last and the last will be first, Jesus tells a parable (Matthew 20).

After all, without love, even the greatest sacrifice is worthless (1 Corinthians 13:3). Jesus’ response in verse 30 may have been an indirect warning to Peter to always find his sufficiency in Christ, not in his own sacrifice. Perhaps Jesus detected in Peter’s statement a bit of boasting-Peter was on the verge of becoming spiritually complacent-as the rich young ruler was, but for a different reason. The Lord’s statement that the last would be first and the first last might also have held special meaning for Peter, who had just spoken of having “left all” (Matthew 19:27). The rich young ruler is an example of those who may be last, and he happened to be rich (but his wealth was not what makes him last). The disciples are an example of those who may be first, and they happened to be poor (but their poverty was not what makes them first in heaven). God, who sees the heart, will reward accordingly. When Jesus told the disciples they would be greatly rewarded in heaven for what they had given up on earth, He was contrasting their sacrifice with the rich young ruler’s lack thereof-the young man had been unwilling to give up much of anything for Christ’s sake (Matthew 19:16–22). Earthly rank will not automatically translate into an inverse heavenly rank. Nor will believers who enjoy wealth and prestige on earth be required to somehow be abased in heaven. The rich aren’t always last in heaven, and the poor aren’t always first. There is no heavenly law wherein the poor and oppressed must rule over the rich and powerful. Also, Jesus was not teaching an automatic reversal of roles in heaven. Scripture is clear that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8–9)-and independent of one’s financial status. Jesus was not teaching that the way to get to heaven is to live a life of poverty in this world.

What exactly did Jesus mean when He said, “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”? First, we should eliminate what He did not mean. Jesus reiterated this truth in Matthew 20:16 at the end of the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, a story designed to illustrate the last being first and the first being last.

Scripture quotes about endings