Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 20:16

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

KJV

οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι.

Greek NT

Sic erunt novissimi primi, et primi novissimi. Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.

Vulgate

So the last shall be first, and the first last.

ASV

So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

6 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
οὕτω
outo
adverb · 208×
πρῶτος
protos
adjective · 101×
ἔσχατος
eschatos
adjective · 53×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

notable
SBLGNT: ἔσχατοι | WH/NIV: ἔσχατοι | Treg/RP: + πολλοὶ γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί
  • ἔσχατοι — SBLGNT
  • ἔσχατοι — Westcott-Hort, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + πολλοὶ γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί — Tregelles, Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Parable

Historic Christian voices

7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Christ assumed actual flesh, conceived and born of the Virgin. 1. Those, therefore, who allege that He took nothing from the Virgin do greatly err, [since,] in order that they may cast away the inheritance of the flesh, they also reject the analogy [between Him and Adam]. For if the one [who sprang] from the earth had indeed formation and substance from both the hand and workma…
At first God deemed it sufficient to inscribe the natural law, or the Decalogue, upon the hearts of men; but afterwards He found it necessary to bridle, with the yoke of the Mosaic law, the desires of the Jews, who were abusing their liberty; and even to add some special commands, because of the hardness of their hearts. 1. They (the Jews) had therefore a law, a course of disci…
The sins of the men of old time, which incurred the displeasure of God, were, by His providence, committed to writing, that we might derive instruction thereby, and not be filled with pride. We must not, therefore, infer that there was another God than He whom Christ preached; we should rather fear, lest the one and the same God who inflicted punishment on the ancients, should …
2. But that what I say may become clearer, we must needs in what follows attend to the very words. What then are these? I make known unto you, brethren, says he, the gospel which I preached unto you. Do you see with what modesty he commences? Do you see how from the beginning he points out that he is bringing in no new nor strange thing? For he who makes known that which was al…
62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God. 63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last. 68. Indulgences are actually the very smallest graces when compared with the grace of God and the piety of the cross. 76. We say on the contrary that papal indulgences cannot remove the very least of venial…

Cross-references

  • 1Thess 2:13 — For 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 e
  • 2Thess 2:13 — But 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 t
  • Esth 2:4 — And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
  • Isa 48:12 — Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
  • Jas 1:23 — For 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:
  • Jer 38:7 — Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
  • John 12:19 — The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
  • Judg 7:3 — Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two tho
  • Luke 7:47 — Wherefore 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.
  • Luke 12:32 — Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
  • Luke 13:23 — Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
  • Luke 13:28 — There 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 13:30 — And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
  • Luke 14:24 — For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
  • Luke 15:7 — I 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.
  • Luke 17:17 — And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
  • Mark 10:31 — But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
  • Mark 10:31 — But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
  • Matt 7:13 — Enter 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:
  • Matt 7:14 — Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
  • Matt 8:11 — And 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.
  • Matt 19:30 — But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
  • Matt 19:30 — But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
  • Matt 21:31 — Whether 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 21:31 — Whether 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 22:14 — For many are called, but few are chosen.
  • Matt 22:14 — For many are called, but few are chosen.
  • Rom 5:20 — Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
  • Rom 8:30 — Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
  • Rom 9:30 — What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
  • Rom 10:20 — But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.