Luke 13:30 NKJV
[30] And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”
What does this mean to us?
As usual, it might not have been what we were taught. In context generally, it talks about the end of days. Addressing many topics like striving to enter the narrow gate, to the door that has been locked, to complaining about hosting His presence and teaching, to seeing Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with the prophets inside, to others coming in from all directions, the passage ends with what is quoted above.
There are those who teach that this even speaks of the 144,000 saved. There are those who talk as if this speaks about being ready when Christ comes again. Yes, 144,000 will be saved, and we must be ready, but what does Jesus really mean by this?
Luke 13:23-30 NKJV
[23] Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ [26] then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ [27] But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ [28] There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. [29] They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. [30] And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”