KJV King James Version
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Matthew 20:16
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
WEB World English Bible
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
ASV American Standard Version
So the last shall be first, and the first last.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many are called, and few chosen.’
Surrounding context — Matthew 20
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
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Cross-references
Matthew 19:30But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.Mark 10:31But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.Matthew 22:14For many are called, but few [are] chosen.Luke 13:28-30There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.Luke 15:7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.Romans 9:30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.Matthew 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Romans 8:30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.James 1:23-25For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:Luke 14:24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.Luke 17:17-18And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine?Matthew 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.John 12:19-22The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.Romans 5:20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:Luke 7:47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.2 Thessalonians 2:13-14But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:Matthew 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.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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