The Last will be First and the First Last: Kingdom Parable of Laborers in Vineyard

To wrap up the discussion around the rich young ruler and entrance and rewards in the kingdom, Jesus stated (Matt 19:30), "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." This statement was also the lead-in to another parable of the kingdom--the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt 20:1-16)--which ends with, "So the last will be first, and the first last."

Whereas the first use of "the last will be first" emphasizes the humility of the one entering the kingdom, the second use--and the parable--exhorts the humility of the one who has already entered the kingdom by grace while encouraging him to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Christ by that same grace.

Matthew 20:1-16 – The Last will be First and the First Last
Parable of the Kingdom: The Laborers in the Vineyard
I. Placement of the Parable
II. Presentation of the Parable (vv1-16)
---A. Receiving/Seeking Laborers (vv1-7)
---B. Rewarding Laborers (vv8-12)
---C. Rebuking/Instructing Laborers (vv13-16)
III. Applications of the Parable
---A. Main Point of Parable
---B. 5 Sub-Applications of Parable
------1. God is sovereign (He owns everything and owes us nothing)
------2. God is good and gracious
------3. We are to be humble/grateful to God in Christ to serve Christ
------4. We are to be humble/grateful toward others in Christ's kingdom
------5. Man knows not his time