In my growing up as a christian, I can still
remember the many times that people have used that phrase “ So
the last will be first, and the first last.” Sometimes some people lose
their position or place for some reason or the other which could be due to
their own fault and that phrase becomes handy. Like I always suggest
interpreting scripture by scripture is vital for correct interpretation.
So the question is why did Jesus say this?
One of such of such reference was when Jesus healed the centurion’s
servant. Jesus commended his faith and said that he had encountered such a
faith in all of Israel. Then he said the following:
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and
sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” - Matthew 8:11,12
Another
of such reference was when he taught them the parable of the workers in the vineyard in
Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early
in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he
sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle
in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is
right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did
likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing
idle,[a] and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You
also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’[b]
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his
steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages,
beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about
the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive
more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they
complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have
worked only one
hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of
the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no
wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as
to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or
is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are
called, but few chosen.”
What was the message?
That grace was an equal opportunity
employer for all men. But first to the Jews and second to the gentiles.
This salvation has provided
justification. He justifies us when we believe in Jesus Christ and that
constitutes God being just and fair then that means that all of our sin has
been placed in the body of Christ at Calvary, and that God is honoring the
price that Jesus paid by forgiving us.
It is not about how long we have labored
for him but how much he labored for us.
This justification makes us appear
before God as if we have never sinned in our life. This act is miraculously
done by no effort on our part; it is all a gift of God’s grace through Christ’s
finished work. By justifying us upon our faith in Jesus, God proves to the
world that He is a righteous God. If He required us to earn our salvation or
our blessings by works then He would be guilty of killing His Son for our sins
and then holding us accountable for them as well.
But was this grace accepted by the
first receipients? For majority the answer was No!
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him. – John 1:11
Jesus made a conclusion and it was a prophecy that was fulfilled
not long after he ascended back to heaven.
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God
will be taken away from you (the Jews) and given to a people
who will produce its fruit. (Matthew 21:43)
The Jews were an Esau
that gave up their birthright and the gentiles were the Jacob that took what
they lost. The first became last and the last became first.
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and
sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
When the temple was burnt down in 70AD
the kingdom was transferred to the gentiles. It was an official announcement by
God as the “old earth and heaven” passed away and the new appeared, the new
city is the bride of the lamb of God.
“Let
us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has
come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe
herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous
deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those
who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These
are the true words of God.” - Revelation
19:7-9
Grace to you.
