The Paradox of Last Being First in Matthew 20
The Paradox of Last Being First in Matthew 20
The paradoxical statement "So the last will be first, and the first last" appears in Matthew 20:16, concluding the parable of the workers in the vineyard [1]. This saying is repeated in various forms throughout the Gospels, emphasizing its significance in Jesus' teachings [2]. The phrase challenges conventional understandings of status, reward, and divine justice.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) illustrates this paradox. Laborers hired at different times of the day receive the same payment, sparking resentment among those who worked longer hours. Jesus uses this narrative to convey that God's kingdom operates differently from human expectations. The last, or those who were hired last, receive the same reward as the first, highlighting God's generosity and challenging traditional notions of merit and reward.
The literary context of Matthew 20:16 is crucial. The parable follows Jesus' third prediction of his passion and the request by James and John to sit at his right and left hand in his kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28). Jesus' response emphasizes the importance of humility and service, contrasting with the world's understanding of greatness. The parable thus serves as a commentary on the nature of God's kingdom and the values that govern it.
Historically, the statement "the last will be first, and the first last" has been interpreted in various contexts. In the Jewish tradition, being "first-born" carried significant privileges, including inheritance and leadership roles [3]. Jesus' statement subverts these expectations, suggesting that the kingdom of heaven will reorder such hierarchies.
The key terms in Matthew 20:16 are "first" and "last," which carry significant theological weight. The Greek words "πρῶτος" (prōtos) and "ἔσχατος" (eschatos) are used, emphasizing the reversal of expectations in God's kingdom. The original language highlights the stark contrast between the world's values and those of the kingdom.
Interpreters have offered various explanations for this paradox. John Gill, representing the Baptist/Reformed tradition, suggests that the statement refers to the reversal of fortunes between Jews and Gentiles, or between nominal and real Christians [5]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, from a Presbyterian perspective, interpret it as a warning against the pride and self-righteousness of those who are "first" in the world, cautioning that they might miss their reward, while those who are humble and recognize their late arrival to the vineyard will be first in the kingdom [4].
The paradox has functioned significantly in Christian tradition. It has been used to challenge social and ecclesiastical hierarchies, emphasizing the importance of humility and service. The statement has also been seen as a call to recognize God's sovereignty in distributing rewards, which are not based on human merit or timing.
The repetition of this theme across the Gospels (Matthew 19:30; Luke 13:30) underscores its importance in Jesus' teachings. The variations in wording and context highlight the multifaceted nature of the paradox, inviting reflection on the nature of God's kingdom and the values that govern it.
Sources
- Matthew “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.” -- Matthew 20:16”
- Matthew “But many will be last who are first; and first who are last. -- Matthew 19:30”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: First-born — Sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deut. 21:17; Gen. 25:23, 31, 34; 49:3; 1 Chr. 5:1; Heb. 12:16; Ps. 89:27). (See [211]BIRTHRIGHT.) The "first-born of the poor" signifies the most miserable of the poor (Isa. 14:30). The "church of the first-born" signifies the church of the redeemed. The destruction of the first-born was the last of the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians (Ex. 11:1-8; 12:29, 30). Menephtah is probably the Pharaoh whose first-born was slain. His son did not succeed or survive his father, but died early. The son's tomb has been f”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 20:16: So the last shall be first, and the first last--that is, "Take heed lest by indulging the spirit of these murmurers at the penny given to the last hired, ye miss your own penny, though first in the vineyard; while the consciousness of having come in so late may inspire these last with such a humble frame, and such admiration of the grace that has hired and rewarded them at all, as will put them into the foremost place in the end." for many be called, but few chosen--This is another of our Lord's terse and pregnant sayings, more than once uttered in”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 20:15: So the last shall be first, and the first last,.... As he had asserted in Mat 19:30 and which is clearly illustrated by this parable, as it may be applied to Jews or Gentiles, or to nominal and real Christians: for many be called; externally, under the ministration of the Gospel, as the Jews in general were, by Christ and his apostles; but few chosen; in Christ from all eternity, both to grace and glory; and in consequence, and as an evidence of it, but few among the Jews; as also in the Gentile world, comparatively speaking: and even but a few of those that are”