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Matthew: First last and last first
1. Matthew: First last and last first
Matthew 19:30 is the
last verse of Matthew 19, right
before the parable of the vineyard workers. Matthew 20:16 is right
after the parable of the vineyard workers.
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
In Matthew, Jesus talks
twice of the
"first" being
"last" and the
"last" being
"first". Who are the
"many"? More importantly, who are
not the
"many" who might be called the "
few".
2. Matthew 20:8 Workers are called
3. Chapter and verse divisions
Chapter divisions were added (and chapters numbered) in the Middle Ages in the 13th century. Later, in 1551, in the Middle Ages, verse divisions were added (and verses numbered).
It is best to always check surrounding verses and, when appropriate, verses in the previous or next chapter, to see if those verses have important meaning for the context.
The common
KJV (King James Version) Bible has
66 books,
40 in the
OT (Old Testament) and
26 in the
NT (New Testament).
In the 13th century, the books were divided into chapters. With small variations, there are
1,189 chapters in the Bible,
929 in the
OT and
260 in the
NT.
In the 16th century, the chapters were divided into verses. There are about
31,000 verses in the Bible,
23,000 in the
OT and
8,000 in the
NT.
4. Matthew 19:30 Questions
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
Who are the "many"?
Why was Greek "shall be" translated as "that are"?
Why was "shall be" added before both "last" and "first" in the KJV?
Why was "the" added in the KJV?
Why are "first" and "last" plural (both times for each)?
What is the actual meaning of this verse?
5. Matthew 19:30 Translations
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
Greek:
Many but will be first last and last first.
Many translations follow the
KJV which is largely based on the Latin.
NIV (New International Version):
But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
NLT (New Living Translation):
But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Berean Literal Bible:
But many who are first will be last, and last, first.
6. Matthew 20:16 Questions
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
Why are "first" and "last" plural (both times for each)?
Why is there a definite article "the" before a "last" and a "first"?
The TR (Textus Receptus) adds "for many be called, but few chosen" which does not appear to be appropriate here.
What is the actual meaning of this verse?
7. Matthew 20:16 Translations
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
Greek:
Therefore will be the last first and the first last.
Many translations follow the
KJV which is largely based on the Latin.
NIV:
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
NLT:
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
Berean Literal Bible:
Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.
8. Matthew 20:16 First and last
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"οὕτως" ≈ "thus" and indicates a conclusion from what has been said. One should look at what was said before this verse.
"πρῶτος" ≈ "first, earliest, most prominent, prime (number)" as in English words beginning with "proto".
"ἔσχατος" ≈ "farthest, most remote, last, final, extreme" and is the source of the English word "eschatology" as a "study of the end times".
Discuss:
Who are the "first"? Who are the "last"?
Who are those between the "first" and the "last"?
These questions appear to be answered, in part, at the end of the next chapter.
The
TR adds "
many be called, but few chosen" which does not fit in this context and breaks the model.
[job versus profession]
9. Stacks and queues in computer science
A "
stack" is a
LIFO (Last In First Out) data structure. Think of a "
stack" of cafeteria trays.
A "
queue" is a
FIFI (First In First Out) data structure. Think of a waiting line.
The German language often pushes verbs during a sentence and then pops them off in reverse order (creating some suspense) at the end of the sentence.
In computer science, stacks are used to remember something (push), go and do something else, and then remember what you were doing (pop) and continue what you were doing.
What is a "queue"?
A "queue" is a "q" with silent letters in-line after it.
10. Matthew 19:30 First and last
11. Matthew 19:30 Stacks and queues
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
What is the criteria to which
first and
last refer?
Stack paraphrase:
But many that are first in shall be the last out and the last in shall be the first out.
That is, from a time sequence perspective, the last in shall be first out and the first in shall be last out. This is the definition of a
stack structure.
Who are the
"many"
12. Matthew 20:8 Last to the first
Matthew 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. [kjv]
οψιας δε γενομενης λεγει ο κυριος του αμπελωνος τω επιτροπω αυτου καλεσον τους εργατας και αποδος αυτοις τον μισθον αρξαμενος απο των εσχατων εως των πρωτων [gnt]
The order in which the workers are "
paid" is from the
"last" to the
"first". Both are
masculine,
genitive and
plural. The order appears to be that of
reverse order in which they were called to work in the
"vineyard".
This has a
literal meaning. Might this be a distractor for any secondary meaning?
The Greek translated as
"hire" is that of
"reward".
13. Matthew 21: Logical analysis
Matthew 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. [kjv]
τις εκ των δυο εποιησεν το θελημα του πατρος λεγουσιν αυτω ο πρωτος υστερος λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους αμην λεγω υμιν οτι οι τελωναι και αι πορναι προαγουσιν υμας εις την βασιλειαν του θεου [gnt]
Matthew uses
"kingdom" of
"God" and
not the
"kingdom" of
"heaven/air". Is there a difference? If so, is it important?
Many attribute this saying to
hyperbole or, essentially, an
opinion. A
logical analysis of this verse is that, with probability approaching certainty,
no religious elite who mislead the faithful for their own greatness will enter the
"kingdom" of
"God".
Who are the
"first"? Who are the
"last"? Who are the
"many"? Who are
not the
"many"?
14. Kingdom of heaven build
Jesus appears to make a
logical statement. If not, one can use
opinion to make it say many other things.
Are any of man's "
righteous" (without God) going in?
Sinners who have changed.
Sinners who have not changed.
Birds (religious elite) who have oppressed others. Are these the "first" that will be "last"? How many "sparrows" will fall without God?
Sinners who entered the Kingdom of God. Are these the "last" that will be "first"?
In particular, if there is even one tax collector or harlot that does not get into the kingdom of God, then neither do any of the religious elite to which Jesus refers.
15. Structural induction
The following are basically the same with a slight different in viewpoint and application.
A mathematical induction is an induction based on mathematical formulas (more abstract).
A structural induction is an induction based on (often programming) structures (more concrete).
Inside to outside: (syntheses, generative)
base case: one element (already ordered)
step (induction) case: two elements, one on each side
Outside to inside: (analysis)
base: two outer elements, one on each side.
step: inside elements as base and step.
[fractals]
16. Koch coastline development
A
fractal is a
self-similar object (i.e., with
fractional dimension).
17. Combined fractal coastline build
A
fractal is a
self-similar object (i.e., with
fractional dimension).
18. Structural induction build
A
declarative interpretation of the
first and
last is that of a swap of values. Is this is what was intended by the verses?
The effect of the
first shall be last and the
last shall be first is that of
reversing the order of the
elements of the
list.
This is nice to know, but the
"first" and
"last" verses do not indicate that a recursive application is intended.
This is a
different idea than the "
greatest" shall be the "
least" and the "
least" shall be the "
greatest". In that case, every value can be the same. In a list, each is a different element and is
not the
same element, even if some elements have the
same value.
19. Arrays of lists
The "worth" such as greatest or least, of every element can be the same.
The "order" in the list, such as first or last, of each element is different.
To
reverse the list, no knowledge is needed of the value of each element in the list.
20. Sorting
To "
sort" is to "
arrange" into "
order" using some "
criteria". In the seventh kingdom parable, the harvest at the end of the age, the "
angels" "
arrange" or "
order" items into "
good" and "
rotten". This is the basic idea of the first iteration of
quicksort that was developed by Tony Hoare in 1959 and published in 1961.
If the "
greatest" and the "
least" are the same
value, then sorting on that
value results in
n! orderings for
n items, all of which are valid
sorts or
arrangements. In such a case, there is no need to ever
sort on that
value.
21. Matthew 11:5-6 Bottom-up forward-chaining
Message of Jesus to John the Baptist (in physical prison):
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
| Six noun‑verb pairs decoded |
| 6. |
poor=fallen, beggars |
start |
gospel=good news preached |
|
| 5. |
dead=asleep |
then |
raised=wake up you deadhead |
| 4. |
deaf=not listening |
then |
hear=listen and understand |
repent |
| 3. |
lepers=sinners |
then |
cleansed=be born again, cleansed in the blood |
Ask |
| 2. |
lame=passive |
then |
walk=active start walking in righteousness |
Seek |
| 1. |
blind=not seeing |
then |
sight=look up/ahead and see God & others |
Knock |
The
top-down verses (in English) may be more understandable as a
bottom-up progression (as events unfold in time) using the Greek meanings of the words. Approaches to change: (
stop,
repent, be
cleansed and
walk).
11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
Paraphrase:
Happy is he who does not misinterpret what I say.
22. Matthew 11:5-6 Diagram
The ways that six items can be ordered is 6! = 6*5*4*3*2*1 =
720 ways. Of these six items in Matthew 11:6, only two sequences fit - forward or backwards. Is this a coincidence?
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
23. Probability
The ways that six items can be ordered is
6! =
6*5*4*3*2*1 =
720 ways. Of these six items in Matthew 11:6, only
two sequences fit - forward or backwards. That is, a probability of
1 in
360. There are
360 days in a prophetic year. Is any of this a coincidence?
24. Lord's Prayer in Matthew
Sermon on the Mount:
| 4 |
four foreword sequences (one split) |
| 2 |
two backward sequences |
| 1 |
Lord's Prayer subsequence (self‑similar fractal) |
| 7 |
sequences total |
25. Lord's Prayer in Matthew
| Verse patterns |
| Verses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Matthew 6:9‑13 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Lord's Prayer |
| Matthew 11:5‑6 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
to John's disciples |
There is an interesting verse pattern in both the Lord's Prayer and the message to John's disciples.
Matthew 6:9 … Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.. [kjv]
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [kjv]
6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. [kjv]
6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [kjv]
6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [kjv]
26. Revelation 1:8,11 Alpha and omega in Revelation
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. [kjv]
1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. [kjv]
The
TR back-patches parts of later verse into these verses in Revelation.
27. Revelation 22:13 Alpha and omega in Revelation
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [kjv]
εγω ειμι το α αλφα και το ω αρχη και τελος ο ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος η αρχη και το τελος [gnt]
Note that both
"first" and
"last" are
singular and
not plural.
28. Verse model observations
In each verse sequence, the order of six times is reveres. The
"last" shall be
"first" and the
"first" shall be
"last".
The Greek word for "
hidden" as in "
hidden" "
manna" or "
bread" appears only in two places in Matthew, in the kingdom parables.
KP4 : Right after (part of) the Leaven (false doctrine) mixed in with true doctrine. The "false" "dead" "bread".
KP5 : Treasure hid in a field. The "true" "living" "bread".
The "
living" "
bread" is in Matthew 6:11 (step
5 of seven):
Give us tomorrow's bread today. (eternal "living" "bread")
Give us today our daily bread. (the worldly "bread", adjusted by theologians, etc., to be more appropriate)
29. Verse model observations
In each verse sequence, the order of six times is reversed. The
"last" shall be
"first" and the
"first" shall be
"last". There are two verses in Matthew where Jesus states this idea.
Which verses might relate to the following?
"eternal" "life" or "bread"
not "deceiving" oneself as to Christ's message
After the rich young man episode:
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
Parable of the vineyard workers:
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
30. TenWordPin summary
The parable of the vineyard workers can be compared with the kingdom parables in Matthew 13 using the TenWordPin model.
There are five hours, in a manner similar to five loaves (of bread).
There are the before and after, for two, in a manner similar to the two fish.
The word used for the one called "friend" (hour 1, complainer) is the same word as the one (few) without a wedding garment in the wedding feast two chapters later.
31. Strongs - be
*G1510 *0 εἰμί (i-mee') : the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was.
 |
Words: ει=89 ειη=11 ειμι=134 ειναι=123 εισιν=158 εσεσθαι=4 εσεσθε=11 εση=8 εσμεν=51 εσομαι=13 εσομεθα=4 εσομενον εσονται=31 εσται=119 εστε=85 εστιν=888 εστω=12 εστωσαν=2 η=43 ημεθα=5 ημεν=8 ημην=15 ην=313 ης=7 ησαν=96 ησθα=2 ητε=19 ητω=2 ισθι=5 ον οντα=19 οντας=11 οντες=26 οντι=4 οντος=15 οντων=6 ουσα=6 ουσαι ουσαν=6 ουση=4 ουσης=6 ουσιν=9 ουσων ω=2 ωμεν=3 ων=45 ωσιν=11
|
32. Similarities and differences
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
Greek word order:
19:30
Many but will be first last and last first.
20:16
Therefore will be the last first and the first last.
Why does verse 20:16 use
"the" for both
"first" and
"last" but verse 19:30 does
not use
"the" at all?
33. Questionable statements
English has ways to unambiguously express a question. In many languages, including Greek, a statement and a question are written in exactly the same way. To make a statement a question, one
raises the
voice at the end of the statement.
 |
 |
 |
Question
|
Statement
|
Exclamation
|
The Greek language:
all uppercase
no spaces
no punctuation
These non-written hints are not in the Greek text. Examples:
You have it. (statement of fact)
You have it! (exclamation)
You have it? (raised voice at end)
Do you have it? (common English)
34. Question and answer
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
19:30
Many but will be first last and last first?
20:1-15 Parable of the Vineyard Workers to answer the question followed by the statement of what has just been answered.
20:16
Therefore will be the last first and the first last.
35. Matthew 19:30
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
Algorithm:
2. person at the
beginning of the line, go to the
back of the line.
3. person at the
back of the line go to the
beginning of the line.
What is the effect?
36. Matthew 20:16
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
Algorithm:
6. person at the
back of the line go to the
beginning of the line.
7. person at the
beginning of the line, go to the
back of the line.
What is the effect?
37. First and last build
What is the effect of the (imperative) algorithms? Invariant transforms.
1. Initial configuration.
4, 8. Back to original configuration. No change.
2. person at the
beginning of the line, go to the
back of the line.
3. person at the
back of the line go to the
beginning of the line.
6. person at the
back of the line go to the
beginning of the line.
7. person at the
beginning of the line, go to the
back of the line.
38. Similarities and differences
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
"πρῶτος" ≈ "first, earliest, most prominent, prime (number)" as in English words beginning with "proto".
"ἔσχατος" ≈ "farthest, most remote, last, final, extreme" and is the source of the English word "eschatology" as a "study of the end times".
"ἔσονται" ≈ "will be" (third person plural medio-passive indicative) of "εἰμῐ́" ≈ "to be, exists".
39. Play on words
"καίω" ≈ "light, kindle, set on fire, burn, burn up, make very cold (frost)".
"καιε" ≈ "you burn" and "καίει" ≈ "(it) burns".
"τροπαί" ≈ "turning(s), way(s)".
"ἔσχατος" ≈ "farthest, most remote, last, final, extreme".
"σκότος" ≈ "darkness, gloom, blindness, obscurity".
"σκότοι" ≈ "darkness, gloom, blindness, obscurity" (nominative plural).
"πολύς" ≈ "many, much".
40. Play on words
"ἔσχατος" ≈ "farthest, most remote, last, final, extreme".
"σκότος" ≈ "darkness, gloom, blindness, obscurity".
"σκότοι" ≈ "darkness, gloom, blindness, obscurity" (nominative plural).
Note: In a play on words (e.g., telling a joke), the leading "
e" would be implied or omitted by just a little audible breath (in or out) at that point.
If
"eschatology" is the "
study of the end times" might (the made up word)
"eskotology" be the "
study of dark times". Pastors might learn this in "
cemetery", I mean "
seminary". When I talk to a pastor without a sense of humor, I tell him or her that "
these jokes might go past your perception".
41. Play on words
Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. [kjv]
πολλοι δε εσονται πρωτοι εσχατοι και εσχατοι πρωτοι [gnt]
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [kjv]
ουτως εσονται οι εσχατοι πρωτοι και οι πρωτοι εσχατοι πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι [gnt]
42. Nothing new
The saying "
there is no new thing under the sun" a saying from Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [kjv]
τι το γεγονος αυτο το γενησομενον και τι το πεποιημενον αυτο το ποιηθησομενον και ουκ εστιν παν προσφατον υπο τον ηλιον [lxx]
It does happen that old ideas get repackaged and may or may not be recognized as such.
Discuss: Provide some historical examples of old ideas that become new ideas. Are
new age ideas really new?
43. End of page
