Canonical biblical theme
The First Will Be Last
Biblical Theology
Themes
A recurring saying in Matthew and Mark reverses the positions of the first and the last.
The Bible says that many who are first will be last, and the last will be first (Matthew 19:30). The word or idea recurs in at least 3 verses across 2 books and 3 episodes. Matthew also states, “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). Mark repeats the same reversal with “many” who are first becoming last and the last becoming first (Mark 10:31).
3
Verses
2
Books
Key verses
Across Scripture
Matthew · Mark