“Indeed,
Some who are last
Will be first.
Some who are first
Will be last.”
καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰσὶν ἔσχατοι οἳ ἔσονται πρῶτοι, καὶ εἰσὶν πρῶτοι οἳ ἔσονται ἔσχατοι
Luke indicated that Jesus said that some who are last now will be first (καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰσὶν ἔσχατοι οἳ ἔσονται πρῶτοι). At the same time, some who are first now will be last (καὶ εἰσὶν πρῶτοι οἳ ἔσονται ἔσχατοι). This eschatological saying about the reversal of order can also be found in Matthew, chapter 19:30, and Mark, chapter 10:31, almost word for word. This same saying was also repeated in Matthew, chapter 20:16, about day laborers. This renewal at the end times, would reverse the earthly hierarchy. Mark and Matthew said that this would happen to many people, while Luke said that only some people would be involved. Mark indicated that many people who are now first would be last (πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι), while the people last now would be first (καὶ οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι) at the end eschatological renewal final time. Matthew also said that many people (Πολλοὶ) who are now first would be last (Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι), while the people now last would be first (καὶ 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. Will you be first or last?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 