“But many who are first
Will be last.
The last
Will be first.”
πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι.
This eschatological saying about the reversal of order can be found in Matthew, chapter 19:30, and Luke, chapter 13:30, almost word for word. This same saying will be repeated by Matthew in chapter 20:16 about day laborers. This renewal at the end times, would reverse the earthly hierarchy. Mark and Matthew say that this will happen to many people, while Luke said only some people. Here many people who are now first will be last (πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι), while the people last now will be first (καὶ οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι) at the end eschatological renewal final time. This is a saying often used to remind people that things will not always be the same as they are today.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 