The first will be last ∙∙

The first will be last ∙∙

Many who are first will be last. – Matthew 19:30

Matthew 19:23-30

 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

 24 I’ll say it again – it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!

 25 The disciples were astounded. Then who in the world can be saved? they asked.

 26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God, everything is possible.

 27 Then Peter said to him, We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?

 28 Jesus replied I assure you that when the world is made new, and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.

 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

We are driven by a strong personal drive to feel good about ourselves and to seek meaning and significance in our lives. As we grow, we often look up to those closest to us and those we admire, adopting their values and aspirations almost like catching a cold.

In worldly terms, we know the rules. What we want, we strive to get. What really matters most? Is it success, possessions, or status? These factors contribute to our sense of satisfaction, but there’s a catch. They can offer a measure of comfort, yet potentially, they block us from achieving what is of lasting importance.

Jesus taught that it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23). But why is this so?

When we become self-reliant and achieve worldly success, the question arises: why would we feel the need for God? If our confidence lies in our own identity, achievements, or possessions, why would we need to put our trust in God?

This struggle isn’t unique to the wealthy; it applies equally to the strong, intelligent, influential, or politically connected. They tend to rely on their own resources; pride keeps them from placing their trust in God and His resources (Stanley).

REFLECT & PRAY

In the kingdom of God, the Father has turned things upside down. Losing is winning; winning is losing.

Father, I recognize that I have caught my values and priorities from the world. Encourage and strengthen me to abandon my earthly, soulish values in exchange for Your heavenly values.

INSIGHT

In the kingdom of God, things seem backward. They are turned upside down from what we expected. Jesus stated, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30).

We gain by losing. Jim Elliot wrote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Matthew 10:39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Human DNA seems to harbor a natural sense of competitiveness. As individuals, we are driven to seek the best for ourselves and work tirelessly to achieve it. However, this inclination is contrary to the dream that the Father has for us and is more in line with the values and priorities of the world rather than those of the kingdom of God.

The Last Supper was a momentous occasion that took place the evening before the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. During this pivotal time, the disciples were present, yet they did not fully comprehend the gravity of what was to unfold the following day. Despite having devoted the last 3 1/2 years of their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, they were not fully aware that He was on the verge of enduring a gruesome, brutal, and horrid death to atone for the sins of the world.

Their attention was fixated entirely on themselves and their own status and importance, rendering them indifferent to the profound significance of that moment for the Lord Jesus Christ. They were so occupied with themselves that they were oblivious to Him. They totally failed to recognize the magnitude of the situation surrounding Him.

Luke 22:24-26

 24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.

 25 Jesus told them, In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people . . .

 26 But among you, it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

In a poignant and emotionally charged moment in the gospel story, the disciples became embroiled in a heated discussion about status and privilege, all while in the very shadow of the cross. The seating arrangement at Jewish feasts adhered to a strict protocol, with the table set in a U-shape, leaving one side open. The host occupied the central position at the top, with the most esteemed guest to his right and the second most esteemed to his left, and this alternating pattern continued around the table.

Entangled in their own worldly ambitions, the disciples became ensnared in an argument about their respective positions, holding fast to the vision of a kingdom based on worldly principles. However, the Lord Jesus Christ imparted a stark lesson, drawing a sharp contrast between the values of His kingdom and those of the world. Worldly kings were evaluated based on the power and authority they wielded.

The Greek word for “dispute,” philoneikia, occurring only here in the NT, is a hapax legomenon. It is a compound word literally meaning love of victory or desire for glory. Here, it has the sense of rivalry, contention, or insidiousness in a pejorative sense. It has the general sense of readiness to quarrel, eagerness to dispute, inclination to strife, love of strife, and eagerness to contend. “When you are interested in promoting yourself, it doesn’t take much to start an argument” (Wiersbe).

Lord Jesus Christ interrupts their vanity with a warning. “Jesus told them bluntly that the standards of his kingdom were not the standards of this world” (Barclay). He explains that they were thinking like the unsaved Gentiles and not like children of the King. The Romans, in particular, vied for honors and did all they could, legally and illegally, to win promotion and recognition, but they are not examples for us to follow. “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves benefactors” (Luke 22:25).

True greatness means to be like Jesus, and that means being a servant to others. A servant does not argue over who is the greatest because he knows that he is the least, and he accepts this from the hand of a Father. Since all children of the King are to be servants, there is no reason for us to compete with one another for honors and recognition.

In the Middle Eastern context, rulers were frequently referred to as Euergetes, a title meaning “Benefactor” in Greek. Nevertheless, Jesus profoundly redefined the concept of greatness, asserting that in His kingdom, it is not the king who holds this title but the servant who embodies it in its truest sense (Barclay).

Sadly, fallen humanity chases after recognition and prominence. As we look within, we may recognize, to our chagrin, that we probably have done the same thing.

To become great in God’s kingdom, you must become the servant of all.

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© Dr. H 2024