Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 20:16

"So the last shall be first, and the first last." — Matthew 20:16 (ASV)

Here our Lord repeats His famous saying, which we noted in Matthew 19:30, and lets us know that precedence in the kingdom of heaven is according to the order of grace. The King will rule in His own courts, and who can question His will? As He is King, it is His right to rule. Loyal subjects are always ready to support their sovereign. Our King reigns by divine right and cannot do wrong. It was said of David, “Whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.” Let this be true of David’s Son and His people.

Jesus tells us that, while many men are called to service, few reach the standard of chosen men. Some of the last shall be first, for abounding grace is seen in their brief hour of work, but some of the first shall be last, for they are not always diligent throughout their longer day and so fall back in the race, or their legal notions put them far behind those who were called later in life, but who are better instructed in the principles of divine grace.