Jesus’ disciples wanted to know what their reward would be for sacrificing all to follow Him. In His answer, Jesus describes various benefits, for scripture teaches that there will be different rewards for different services. He concludes with “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:27-30). The answer as to what that means is in Matthew 20: 1-16.

In that passage, Jesus tells a parable about laborers who were recruited throughout the day to work in a vineyard. The recruitment ranged from early morning to just an hour before the end of the day’s shift. At the end of the day, the laborers who started work in the beginning of the day complained about the pay of those who started later. They were upset that the pay was the same as theirs.

The owner of the vineyard reminded them that they’d agreed to what he would pay them, and that it was his prerogative to generously pay whatever to whomever, whenever. At the end of the parable, the owner makes the “first is last, the last is first” statement.

This is what I draw from the parable. If the “first is last,” that would then make them the “last that is first.” On the other hand, if the “last is first, that would then make them the “first that is last.” In other words, one cancels out the other, for Jesus is talking about equilibrium.

Obviously, the vineyard in the parable is alluding to God’s kingdom. In the kingdom, the ultimate pay, or reward, is eternal life. It applies to the believer who serves during an average life-span all the way down to the one who, during the last seconds of life, declares faith in Christ (think of the thief on the cross). No matter when the decision was made to follow Jesus, and no matter how long one toils for the sake of the kingdom, eternal life is equally given to all.