Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 10:31
But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.
31. many that are first ] Very signally was the former part of this verse fulfilled temporarily in the case of St peter himself, finally in that of Judas; while the latter part was wonderfully realised in the instance of St Paul, so that this passage is chosen for the Gospel of the Festival of “the Conversion of St Paul.” It was now that, to impress upon His hearers the important lesson that entrance into the kingdom of heaven is not a matter of mercenary calculation, our Lord delivered the memorable Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard (Mat 20:1-16).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But many that are first shall be last,….
[See comments on Mt 19:30].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
See on Mt 19:30 for the use of the paradox about
first and
last , probably a rebuke here to Peter’s boast.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) ”But many that are first shall be last (polloi de esontai protoi eschatoi) “Then many that are (now) first, will be last,” in order of the resurrection, the resurrection of the wicked, which will be the last resurrection. Even in the resurrection and reward of the righteous the first in covetousness and selfishness on earth will be last in amount and degrees of rewards, 1Co 3:8; 1Co 3:13-15.
2) ”And the last first.” (kai hoi eschotot protoi) ”And the last (at this time) in possession of worldly goods, will be first to receive eternal life in new body form, of resurrection glory, and bridal beauty, in rewards, 1Co 15:41-42; 2Jn 1:8; Rev 19:7-8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(31) Many that are first shall be last.It will be noted that St. Mark omits the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard, which follows in St. Matthew as an illustration of the truth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.”
Finally Jesus ended by warning them against presumption, and no doubt Judas was especially in mind. Whether this means first in status and priority, or first in time, the same applies. It was possible to lose the benefit that was theirs. They could finish up last. Each must ensure his continuation in faithful service if he was to receive the prize (1Co 9:27). And it applied not only to them but to ‘many’. And in a sense the discouraging thing is that many who were first will be last. It was not to be seen as theoretical but as fact. Many would lose what they had at first gained. But it was also an encouragement. Those who were last need not despair, for they too could finish up first. It is never too late to begin to serve God faithfully.
Some would relate those ‘that are first’ to the leaders of the people, or to the Pharisees, or to rich and important men in contrast with the common people and the poor. But in this immediate context this seems doubtful. What He has in mind here is for them not to lose what they have already gained.
Once again we should note overall that Mark presents his material in order to bring out Who Jesus really is. He is One Who can be called ‘Good’ (Mar 10:17), an attribute reserved for God. He can demand that a man sell all he has and give it away to follow Him (Mar 10:21), promising eternal life on that basis. He can guarantee to His disciples that they will receive eternal life and share in the Kingly Rule of God (Mar 10:30 with 23) because of what they have done with regard to Jesus Himself. Jesus is putting Himself in the place of God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Ver. 31. See Trapp on “ Mat 19:30 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 10:31 . On this apothegm vide on Mt.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mar 10:31. , first shall be) First (), is the subject; see Mat 19:30, note.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 8:11, Mat 8:12, Mat 19:30, Mat 20:16, Mat 21:31, Luk 7:29, Luk 7:30, Luk 7:40-47, Luk 13:30, Luk 18:11-14, Act 13:46-48, Rom 9:30-33
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
BARGAINING IN RELIGION
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Mar 10:31
The Apostles were standing by, and when they saw the young man go away and refuse to do what Christ bade him, it is plain that they began to draw a contrast between themselves and that young man. St. Peter, always the first to speak, turns at once to our Lord and says: Behold we have forsaken all and followed Thee. What shall we have therefore? You cannot help seeing that the emphasis lies on the word we. We, in contradistinction to the young man who had just gone away. He was to have had eternal life if he had done so and so. We have already done it. What are we to have?
I. An untrustful speech.It is most instructive to see that Christ begins by treating the case very tenderly, and then towards the end He conveys the reproof which was rendered necessary. The speech of St. Peter was, as all of us must feel, a cold, hard, untrustful kind of speech, and no one could have wondered if our Lord had met it with some direct reproof. Still, He does not. There is not a word of direct reproof for the question itself. First, the question is answered, and answered encouragingly, and then afterwards comes the maxim of our text.
II. Our Lords reply.It is as if our Lord meant to imply: Have you any doubt of My keeping faith with you? Have you any doubt of My rewarding you abundantly? Put away all such doubts. You will be rewardedeverybody will be rewardeda hundredfold. Then, when our Lord has answered the question, then He puts in the warning which the spirit of the question rendered needful.
III. The warning.The Apostles were His first followers; so He says: Beware! for though you shall not fail of a hundredfold reward, yet there is such a thing as the first being put last, even though a hundredfold rewarded! We may fancy how this must have grated on the ears of the Apostles! After all the high promises they had been listening to, to be told that after all, though they were first now, and though they should certainly be rewarded a hundredfold, and have the everlasting life which had been offered to the young man, yet even then they might still be turned down and put last.
The spirit which God chiefly hates in religion is the spirit of bargaining. The spirit which God chiefly loves is the spirit of prompt uncalculating obedience, the spirit to trust Him without any bargaining at all, leaving it to God to reward us when and how He pleases, and knowing that He is sure to take a greater pleasure in doing well by us than ever we can do in being rewarded by Him.
Illustration
Those who think of serving God just so much and no more; those who think about measuring out their services to Christs poor or to Christs Church according to any spirit of bargaining, are simply mistaking the spirit of Gods service altogether. We are in danger of committing this sin in a spiritual sense every time we come to church, thinking more of the good we are to get by it than of our desire to set forth God s praise. Praise and worship should be our first thought when we come into His courts. Chiefly, and above all, should it be our first thought in Holy Communion, when we commemorate the great love of Christ. And, perhaps, there is no blessing which flows from frequent communion more great than thisthat the devout communicant comes to think less and less of himself, and more and more of Christ the Saviour and the Sacrifice, until worship and adoration come to swallow up all other thoughts, and the love of God becomes supreme over all.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1
This important language is commented upon at Mat 19:30.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 10:31. See Mat 19:30; this proverb is there illustrated by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Mat 20:1-16).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The first in rank and position in this age, such as the rich young ruler, will be last in the next. Conversely the last in this age, such as the Twelve, would be first in the next. These words summarized Jesus’ teaching on discipleship on that occasion and in this section of Mark’s Gospel (Mar 10:1-31). This was a saying that Jesus used at other times as well during His ministry (cf. Mat 20:16: Luk 13:30). Here these words also warned Peter against looking for immediate physical rewards for his self-sacrifices (cf. Mat 20:1-16).
All three of the lessons in discipleship that Mark recorded in this section of his Gospel dealt with self-sacrifice (Mar 10:1-31). The lessons that Jesus taught following His first passion prediction dealt mainly with future glory (Mar 8:31 to Mar 9:29). Those He taught following His second passion prediction concerned present suffering primarily (Mar 9:30 to Mar 10:31).