last first

Matthew 19:23-30


"But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
(Matthew 19:30)


Jesus comments on the young man who went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions, saying how difficult it will be for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The disciples are greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" (This is very similar to their response in v. 10 when they said, "If this is the way it is with a husband and his wife, it is better not to marry!" ) And Jesus says, "With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

We have these themes of value, conflict, and cost in this chapter. Jesus turns all of our values upside down, he inverts our "this is how it is or ought to be". Certainly a rich man (a blessed man) who basically kept the commandments would be considered enviable, and on an inside track to the kingdom. Not so, points out Jesus as the man walks away. That's reality, Jesus says as he looks at the man - people will choose their stuff over God most of the time, they will walk away from Jesus instead of making whatever radical change to be free from their bondage and servitude to their money or prejudices or hopes and dreams. All things are possible with God. Jesus says what seems inevitable is reversible with God. He came to set prisoners free. To deliver the oppressed. To raise up the lowly and humble trusting poor. Those who have left houses and lands and families for Jesus' sake will receive it all back manifold, and will inherit eternal life.

Here's a key to eternal life and to this upside-down kingdom, "many who are first will be last, and the last first." (v. 30) This is the theme of the beatitudes, and a repeated theme in the gospel: become like a child, humble yourself...

Yes, what is of value in the kingdom are the last, the powerless, the least; wives, children, the poor; believers and followers. But even moreso it is Jesus, for whose sake one might not marry or give away everything to the poor; it is Jesus who treasures and blesses the children; and it is Jesus who is good and who will sit finally on his glorious throne. For he is the one who took the lowest and last place, who let go of being first and exalted, and who through his death has been given the name above every name.

Those who value him most of all, those for whom no cost is too great to gain this treasure, those who have left everything to follow him, will indeed inherit eternal life, will be first with him who lives and reigns forever, and rather than going away sorrowful will enter his kingdom rejoicing.