Matthew 20:16
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many bee called, but fewe chosen.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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Matthew 20:16 Context
14Take that thine is, and goe thy way, I will giue vnto this last, euen as vnto thee. 15Is it not lawfull for mee to doe what I wil with mine owne? Is thine eye euill, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many bee called, but fewe chosen. 17¶ And Iesus going vp to Hierusalem, tooke the twelue disciples apart in the way, and said vnto them, 18Behold, we goe vp to Hierusalem, and the Sonne of man shall be betraied vnto the chiefe Priests, and vnto the Scribes, and they shall condemne him to death,
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Other Translations for Matthew 20:16
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- King James Version
"So the last shall be first, and the first last."
- New American Standard Version (1995)
So the last shall be first, and the first last.
- American Standard Version (1901)
So the last will be first, and the first last.
- Basic English Bible
Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called ones, but few chosen ones.
- Darby Bible
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.
- Webster's Bible
So the last shall be first, and the first last.
- Weymouth Bible
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."
- World English Bible
So the laste schulen be the firste, and the firste the laste; `for many ben clepid, but fewe ben chosun.
- Wycliffe Bible
So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many are called, and few chosen.'
- Youngs Literal Bible
Commentary for Matthew 20:16
Matthew 20:16 Inspirational Image
Wesley's Notes for Matthew 20:16
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last - Not only with regard to the Jews and Gentiles, but in a thousand other instances. For many are called - All who hear the Gospel; but few chosen - Only those who obey it. #Mt 19:30|; 22:14.
People's Bible Notes for Matthew 20:16
Mt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last. A special lesson, first, to the Jews. They had been called first by God, but the Gentiles who heard the call should soon enjoy special privileges. They would even be first in the kingdom, because of their greater readiness to receive the gospel. Our duty in the vineyard is to go to work as soon as the Lord calls us, and to do what he tells us.