The First Shall Be First, The Last Shall Be Last?

One of the most prominant enigmatic sayings recorded from the lips of Jesus is the phrase: "The first will be last and the last will be first." This saying has no few interpretations. As D.A. Carson points out in his commentary on Matthew, some have tried to limit this saying to mean that the rich will become poor and vice-versa at the consummation of the kingdom, others that the Jews have been brought low and the Gentiles are now exalted (D.A. Carson, Matthew, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, 19:29), others have taken it to refer to a call by Jesus for a reversal in social standings. While all of these views may have some legitimacy, they do not capture the essence of what Jesus is saying. To understand what Jesus is getting at, we must understand the situation.

Jesus, the embodyment of the Kingdom of God, is speaking to a world-system controlled by sin. While He initiates the Kingdom of God, Jesus is not yet bringing in the fulness of the Kingdom. In other words, Jesus initiates a time between the times--the Spirit of God is upon Jesus, and all who are in Him through faith, and thus the Kingdom of God exists among men on the earth, yet the era and power of sin and darkness has not yet been eradicated (though it has been decisively defeated). The future (eschatological) reign of God has invaded the present evil age--this is the situation to which Jesus speaks.

When Jesus says that the first will be last and vice-versa, He is speaking into a corrupt order that does everything to deface the image and kingdom of God. By saying that the first will be last... Jesus is telling people that the understood order of things is not how it is in the Kingdom of God. Matthew helps us to see this.

Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Matt 20:25-28 (NASB)

In the present order, those who are first "lord it over" their subjects--the great men are those who exercise authority over others and give commands. This is the modern day equivalent of CEOs and bosses. In the present world-system, those who rule are the great men, and servants/employees are the lesser men.

In the Kingdom of God, however, "It is not this way." Rather, the one who is great in the Kingdom is the one who serves--i.e. the slave to all. The great example of this is Christ Himself--He did not come in the flesh to serve, and He is the true Lord, but rather to serve, and He served in the lowest possible way--He died in the place of His own, in obedience to God, a most humiliating and painful death (cf. Philippians 2). He took the lowest place (taking our curse and being counted as the sinner) to exalt His people (and make them the righteous ones, cf. 2 Cor. 5:21). By becoming the lowest, He has become the greatest (Philippians 2:9-11). (Also Cf. John 13)

What is occurring here? Is this a role reversal? Actually, this is the true state of things from the proper perspective. Those who are last in the eyes of this present world are actually those who are first in the Kingdom. Why? Because in the kingdom, those who serve are greater. Thus, in the kingdom the servant is first, not the one who lords it over others. So while Jesus is saying in this present evil order that the first are last and the last first, from the perspective of the kingdom, the first (servants) are first, and the last (lords) are last. This is how God created things to be, but sin has corrupted this and reversed the perspective, making people self-seeking, greedy, and lazy, rather than desiring what is truly best. As Paul says, "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35 (NASB)--emphasis mine

Why is it more blessed to give than to receive? Because the one who is greater is the benefactor, not the beneficiary (as John Piper so often points out). Why is God's plan for salvation to come by grace alone? Why is it that He is always the benefactor while we are unable to serve Him (i.e. make up for a lack in Him)? It is because God is the greatest--He gives grace upon grace. By doing so, God is glorified because He is the great satisfier.

Mark gives us another example of what Jesus means.

They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said* to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

Mark 9:33-35 (NASB)

The disciples desired to be first--a healthy desire. The problem was that they needed to know how to go about this. To become first, a person must become abased in present thinking--for God exalts the humble but abases the proud (1 Peter 5:5-6). The mind of the flesh is opposed to the thoughts of the Spirit, for the thoughts of the flesh are governed by and enslaved to sin, while the thoughts of the Spirit are of God (1 Cor. 2:14). The way of the Spirit, and therefore the Kingdom, is to be the servant, for the servant is more blessed than the recipient (Acts 20:35) (this verse is not about giving Christmas presents), and the servant is most like his/her Father in heaven (cf. Matthew 5:38-48).

So if you desire to be first in the Kingdom of God, be the servant to all. Sell your possessions and give them to the poor, do not resist those who are evil, seek to meet others' needs before your own, and do the menial tasks of the slave--your Captain and King is your great example (Hebrews 12:2-3).