Luke 13:30

30 and lo, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.'

Luke 13:30 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 13:30

And behold, there are last which shall be first
The Gentiles, the most mean and abject, afar from God, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, called last of all; these shall be first, and sit down among patriarchs and prophets, men of the first rank here on earth, in the kingdom of heaven, and enjoy the same glory and happiness with them:

and there are first which shall be last:
the Jews, who were first the visible professing people of God, to whom the oracles of God, and outward privileges and ordinances were given; who had the Messiah first sent to them, and the Gospel first preached among them; these shall be last, be rejected and despised, and shut out of the kingdom of heaven, they thought themselves heirs of, and expected to enjoy; see ( Matthew 19:30 ) ( 20:16 ) .

Luke 13:30 In-Context

28 `There shall be there the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth, when ye may see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the reign of God, and yourselves being cast out without;
29 and they shall come from east and west, and from north and south, and shall recline in the reign of God,
30 and lo, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.'
31 On that day there came near certain Pharisees, saying to him, `Go forth, and be going on hence, for Herod doth wish to kill thee;'
32 and he said to them, `Having gone, say to this fox, Lo, I cast forth demons, and perfect cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third [day] I am being perfected;
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.