Mark 10:31

But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”

World English Bible
Learn

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

BSB

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

KJV

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

ASV

But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.

BBE

But a great number who are first will be last: and those who are last will be first.

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

πολλοὶ polloi Many G4183 δὲ de however G1161 ἔσονται esontai will be G1510 πρῶτοι prōtoi first G4413 ἔσχατοι eschatoi last G2078 καὶ kai and G2532 οἱ hoi the G3588 ἔσχατοι eschatoi last G2078 πρῶτοι.¶ prōtoi first G4413

The early church

But because all do not accomplish a virtuous course of life with the same ardour as they began it, it is presently added, But many that are first shall be last, and the last first; for we daily see many persons who, remaining in a lay habit, are eminent for their meritorious life; but others, who from their youth have been ardent in a spiritual profession, at last wither away in the sloth of ease, and with a lazy folly finish in the flesh, what they had begun in the Spirit.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
But many that are first shall be last, and the last first. For the Pharisees who were first became the last; but those who left all and followed Christ were last in this world through tribulation and persecutions, but shall be first by the hope which is in God.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 23–31

Christ took this occasion to speak to his disciples about the difficulty of the salvation of those who have abundance of this world. Those who thus eagerly seek the wealth of the world, will never rightly prize Christ and his grace. Also, as to the greatness of the salvation of those who have but little of this world, and leave it for Christ. The greatest trial of a good man's constancy is, when love to Jesus calls him to give up love to friends and relatives. Even when gainers by Christ, let them still expect to suffer for him, till they reach heaven. Let us learn contentment in a low state, and to watch against the love of riches in a high one. Let us pray to be enabled to part with all, if required, in Christ's service, and to use all we are allowed to keep in his service.

Read Matthew Henry on Mark 10 →

Parallel passages

3

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 19:30Matthew 20:16Luke 13:30

Cross-references

10

Topics

Gentiles

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.