Now, that I give to this person, the last, also to you. Am I not to do what I will to these of mine? Or you to be envious because I exist generous? In this way, the last exist first and the first last.*
What does it mean the last are first? The kingdom of heaven is like an owner of an estate that hired laborers at different times throughout the day. Even at the eleventh hour when it was close to evening and close to the time to call the workers to pay them he finds others and puts them to work. Now, if they stopped work at the twelfth hour then the first had worked twelve hours while the last only worked one hour. Now, for wages the owner paid them all the same so the ones that were first grumbled, they were envious as they had worked more hours and thought they deserved more. Not only did the owner pay them the same he paid the last workers first and the first workers last. This is like the kingdom of God, the first become last and the last become first.
But Jesus called them saying, you know the rulers of the people lord over them and their leaders exercise authority over them. It is not to be so among you, but whomsoever wills to become great among you exists your servant and whoever wills to be first among you exists your servant. Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.*
A mother of two of the disciples came to Jesus, asking that he grant her sons a position of authority in the kingdom of God at his right hand. Jesus responds you do not know what you ask, will they drink from the same cup He will drink from?* This implies it is a place of suffering and He said it is not like the leadership of the world and its authority, these rulers and leaders lord over, and exercise authority over the people. Jesus said in regards to this it is not to be so, and elsewhere he said "do not call yourselves a leader because Christ exists your only leader."* The example he gives of the first becoming last, the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve. The maturity of the family of God or its falsehood is gauged by the fruit of what it does to His little children. A family succeeds when the mature place the little children first. When a team realizes it is only as strong as its weakest person, teamwork succeeds as the focus is placed upon training up the weak. A soldier's duty is to accomplish the mission but he knows the ability to do so is in having a strong team. If you put a child in a place of maturity without preparation then you have set him up to fail, it is your fault no matter what he does wrong. The kingdom of God is like this, unlike the leadership of the world, Peter affirms, the first are not leaders that lord over but servants, who take care of the sheep watching over, preserving their souls, being examples to the flock in humble submission to the Lord.* This example Christ gives; the first become last, the first become servants.
And whoever, to the extent of being commissioned my disciple, gives one of these little ones, even a cup of cold water to drink, I tell you the truth, his reward is not lost.*
Do you see the kingdom of God? and the implications of what it means to make the last first, in that what we do to the last also we do to Him? The world considers the last weak so it despises them, not so in the kingdom of God, the last, least, little ones, children become first. "In this way, the last exist first and the first last."* People were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them, Jesus saw this and became angry.* We know Jesus got angry at those turning God's house of prayer into a place of earthly profit. They neglected even the tithing laws that said the priests could live off the tithing but have no inheritance in the land. We don't see Jesus get angry much, here we see him get angry at them turning away children. Is it not important we understand why Jesus gets angry, when he raises his voice, when he cries out?
Jesus said to them crying out, 'these children coming to me, do not prevent them, for such is the kingdom of God. I tell you the truth, whoever doesn't take in hand the kingdom of God, this child, will never enter it. And taking them in his arms blessing them, placings his hands on them.'*
I think most translations miss the point of what Jesus was crying out. Think about it, Jesus is angry at how they were treating these children, think of him placing his hands round the little children as a father protecting his children from harm. It says He takes them in his arms which is a very symbolic gesture, which he states; these the least, the last, these the children are first. The least of these my brethren are not just important, they are to be first, most important in the kingdom of God. Yes, Jesus said we must be born from above, of Spirit, to enter the kingdom of God but here I believe Jesus is not saying you must become like a child to enter but those who enter will put first the child of God. Or the kingdom of God is taking in hand His children, putting the least of His brethren first, so those who do not do not display His holy character and do as He says, thus will not see the kingdom of God. John writes this is a sign of the true kingdom of God; we practice righteousness and love our brother.
I tell you the truth, in so far as you did to the least of these my brothers, you did unto me. Then saying to those on his left, depart from me you cursed into eternal fire, that prepared for the devil and his angels. For when I was hungry also you gave me no bread, when I was thirsty you gave me no drink, when a foreigner you did not invite me in, when naked you gave me no clothing, when weak and in a ward you did not visit me. Then they will answer asking when did we see you hungry, when did we see thirsty or a foreigner or naked or in a ward and did not help you? Then he will answer them saying I tell you the truth what you do to the least of these you did to me.*
Who are the least of these? are the least the lost, strangers, and foreigners of this world? The parable begins, "in so far as you did to the least of these my brothers, you did unto me." We are to love the lost of the world and to seek those he has chosen thus the least of these refers to God's children, and we are to put them first. If the children of God need clothing and food and I clothe and feed the world neglecting his children I miss this the meaning of this principle. This example Christ gave of the first becoming last, the Son of God humbled himself becoming a servant. As the parable of the wicked tenants says he was sent by the owner but they killed him thinking to take the inheritance themselves. What they did to His servant they did to the Father. The true works of faith is displayed first in loving one another, James writes, "if a brother or sister lacks in clothing and lacking in food now a person says to him go in peace, stay warm and be filled and yet doesn't give what their body needs, what benefit is this? In this way if you have no works, existing dead according to yourself."* Why would benevolence to my brothers be kept secret while at the same time it is broadcast loudly how much is given as an outreach to the world? Why would they give unquestionably to a stranger but not to a brother among them in need? do they seek their own glory?
How can you believe accepting praise from one another and seeking not the glory that comes only from God?*
James writes the one who would not help a child of God, exists dead in faith. The deeds of true faith are displayed in what I do to His brethren. Can I overlook His brethren as if some sacrifice to evangelize or feed the poor of the world? Paul writes faith without love it is nothing, as John writes, the children of God are revealed not only through deeds of righteousness but also by their love for one another, His brethren. This is why the focus of putting the least of these first in the kingdom of God, becomes important. Those who claim to be mature, they would become servants. Judge them by their fruit Jesus said. What is their true motive? The least of these His brethren are put first, it is a focus put both on the physical and the spiritual need, over that of the lost. There will be those who try to enter the kingdom of God in other garments but they are not known by Jesus though they do many deeds in his name. Jesus warns of false ministers, and the fruit that the scriptures give us is that the mature of God, practice righteousness and put the least of these his brethren first, they love His sheep, they feed His sheep, and would lay down their lives for his sheep.
So then as we have opportunity, labor for good to all, now, especially to those of the family of God.*
We do not neglect doing good to all, no, but who is first? The family of God. Paul writes if you don't care for your own family how can you truly care for the family of God.* If my children need food and clothing and I go out and feed and cloth the children in my community then I miss this principle. The children are first so if you neglect your own children how will you put His first? If the least are first and most precious are His children to him then how can we turn our hearts from the least of these His brethren as if some sacrifice to God? as if a sacrifice for a earthly building fund? or if to spread the gospel, or if to help the poor, orphaned, and lost of this world? The scriptures say such is a lie if we neglect the least of these His brethren. Jesus said the true disciples are known by their love for one another. A cult leader will lord over you claiming his authority is from God. A false evangelist would say he loves the lost and needs your money to reach them, but he will not truly love the brethren. We are to help the poor of this world but we are to take care of our own first, especially to those of the family of God, especially the least. It is so simple yet often neglected principle of the kingdom of God. The implications of being a child of God are tremendous, what we do to His children out weights any deeds that we would do for the world.
As a result you, no longer foreigners and aliens but you exist fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.*
And whoever takes into one’s hands my dear children, to be great in respect to my name, takes into one’s hands me.*
Now, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things near you.*
Hopefully we see in new light what it means to seek first the kingdom of God. Who are the first in the kingdom of God? His dearly loved children. Why do the great become servants? to mature his children. If the great have become mature they will be like Christ putting the child first for the purpose of maturity into His image, the holy character of God, this is consecration. To seek first the kingdom of God is to put what is proper, first, placed most important in the kingdom of God. Though the gifts of evangelism, giving... are given to the Church, the work of ministry is for the least of these, to take children in hand, to build them up so they are mature, which reflects the image of Christ. These children are the praise of His glory. What are the greatest gifts in regards to this? now, abides faith, hope, and love. Seeking first His righteousness speaks of our reasonable service and high calling to become holy, which means we are to share in His holy character. Truth in love we grow up into the full measure of Him. The bond of love leads to perfection, thus how great is love in regards to maturity! Perfection is in truth, so those who abide in His words, abide in the truth and increase in faith. Perfection is becoming mature, transformed from glory to glory, into the full measure of the image of Christ. This is glory and He is the hope of glory. He who abides in hope, purifies himself just as He is pure. Seek first the kingdom of God; first things first, the first become last and the last become first.
Only Jesus
What does it mean the last are first? The kingdom of heaven is like an owner of an estate that hired laborers at different times throughout the day. Even at the eleventh hour when it was close to evening and close to the time to call the workers to pay them he finds others and puts them to work. Now, if they stopped work at the twelfth hour then the first had worked twelve hours while the last only worked one hour. Now, for wages the owner paid them all the same so the ones that were first grumbled, they were envious as they had worked more hours and thought they deserved more. Not only did the owner pay them the same he paid the last workers first and the first workers last. This is like the kingdom of God, the first become last and the last become first.
But Jesus called them saying, you know the rulers of the people lord over them and their leaders exercise authority over them. It is not to be so among you, but whomsoever wills to become great among you exists your servant and whoever wills to be first among you exists your servant. Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.*
A mother of two of the disciples came to Jesus, asking that he grant her sons a position of authority in the kingdom of God at his right hand. Jesus responds you do not know what you ask, will they drink from the same cup He will drink from?* This implies it is a place of suffering and He said it is not like the leadership of the world and its authority, these rulers and leaders lord over, and exercise authority over the people. Jesus said in regards to this it is not to be so, and elsewhere he said "do not call yourselves a leader because Christ exists your only leader."* The example he gives of the first becoming last, the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve. The maturity of the family of God or its falsehood is gauged by the fruit of what it does to His little children. A family succeeds when the mature place the little children first. When a team realizes it is only as strong as its weakest person, teamwork succeeds as the focus is placed upon training up the weak. A soldier's duty is to accomplish the mission but he knows the ability to do so is in having a strong team. If you put a child in a place of maturity without preparation then you have set him up to fail, it is your fault no matter what he does wrong. The kingdom of God is like this, unlike the leadership of the world, Peter affirms, the first are not leaders that lord over but servants, who take care of the sheep watching over, preserving their souls, being examples to the flock in humble submission to the Lord.* This example Christ gives; the first become last, the first become servants.
And whoever, to the extent of being commissioned my disciple, gives one of these little ones, even a cup of cold water to drink, I tell you the truth, his reward is not lost.*
Do you see the kingdom of God? and the implications of what it means to make the last first, in that what we do to the last also we do to Him? The world considers the last weak so it despises them, not so in the kingdom of God, the last, least, little ones, children become first. "In this way, the last exist first and the first last."* People were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them, Jesus saw this and became angry.* We know Jesus got angry at those turning God's house of prayer into a place of earthly profit. They neglected even the tithing laws that said the priests could live off the tithing but have no inheritance in the land. We don't see Jesus get angry much, here we see him get angry at them turning away children. Is it not important we understand why Jesus gets angry, when he raises his voice, when he cries out?
Jesus said to them crying out, 'these children coming to me, do not prevent them, for such is the kingdom of God. I tell you the truth, whoever doesn't take in hand the kingdom of God, this child, will never enter it. And taking them in his arms blessing them, placings his hands on them.'*
I think most translations miss the point of what Jesus was crying out. Think about it, Jesus is angry at how they were treating these children, think of him placing his hands round the little children as a father protecting his children from harm. It says He takes them in his arms which is a very symbolic gesture, which he states; these the least, the last, these the children are first. The least of these my brethren are not just important, they are to be first, most important in the kingdom of God. Yes, Jesus said we must be born from above, of Spirit, to enter the kingdom of God but here I believe Jesus is not saying you must become like a child to enter but those who enter will put first the child of God. Or the kingdom of God is taking in hand His children, putting the least of His brethren first, so those who do not do not display His holy character and do as He says, thus will not see the kingdom of God. John writes this is a sign of the true kingdom of God; we practice righteousness and love our brother.
I tell you the truth, in so far as you did to the least of these my brothers, you did unto me. Then saying to those on his left, depart from me you cursed into eternal fire, that prepared for the devil and his angels. For when I was hungry also you gave me no bread, when I was thirsty you gave me no drink, when a foreigner you did not invite me in, when naked you gave me no clothing, when weak and in a ward you did not visit me. Then they will answer asking when did we see you hungry, when did we see thirsty or a foreigner or naked or in a ward and did not help you? Then he will answer them saying I tell you the truth what you do to the least of these you did to me.*
Who are the least of these? are the least the lost, strangers, and foreigners of this world? The parable begins, "in so far as you did to the least of these my brothers, you did unto me." We are to love the lost of the world and to seek those he has chosen thus the least of these refers to God's children, and we are to put them first. If the children of God need clothing and food and I clothe and feed the world neglecting his children I miss this the meaning of this principle. This example Christ gave of the first becoming last, the Son of God humbled himself becoming a servant. As the parable of the wicked tenants says he was sent by the owner but they killed him thinking to take the inheritance themselves. What they did to His servant they did to the Father. The true works of faith is displayed first in loving one another, James writes, "if a brother or sister lacks in clothing and lacking in food now a person says to him go in peace, stay warm and be filled and yet doesn't give what their body needs, what benefit is this? In this way if you have no works, existing dead according to yourself."* Why would benevolence to my brothers be kept secret while at the same time it is broadcast loudly how much is given as an outreach to the world? Why would they give unquestionably to a stranger but not to a brother among them in need? do they seek their own glory?
How can you believe accepting praise from one another and seeking not the glory that comes only from God?*
James writes the one who would not help a child of God, exists dead in faith. The deeds of true faith are displayed in what I do to His brethren. Can I overlook His brethren as if some sacrifice to evangelize or feed the poor of the world? Paul writes faith without love it is nothing, as John writes, the children of God are revealed not only through deeds of righteousness but also by their love for one another, His brethren. This is why the focus of putting the least of these first in the kingdom of God, becomes important. Those who claim to be mature, they would become servants. Judge them by their fruit Jesus said. What is their true motive? The least of these His brethren are put first, it is a focus put both on the physical and the spiritual need, over that of the lost. There will be those who try to enter the kingdom of God in other garments but they are not known by Jesus though they do many deeds in his name. Jesus warns of false ministers, and the fruit that the scriptures give us is that the mature of God, practice righteousness and put the least of these his brethren first, they love His sheep, they feed His sheep, and would lay down their lives for his sheep.
So then as we have opportunity, labor for good to all, now, especially to those of the family of God.*
We do not neglect doing good to all, no, but who is first? The family of God. Paul writes if you don't care for your own family how can you truly care for the family of God.* If my children need food and clothing and I go out and feed and cloth the children in my community then I miss this principle. The children are first so if you neglect your own children how will you put His first? If the least are first and most precious are His children to him then how can we turn our hearts from the least of these His brethren as if some sacrifice to God? as if a sacrifice for a earthly building fund? or if to spread the gospel, or if to help the poor, orphaned, and lost of this world? The scriptures say such is a lie if we neglect the least of these His brethren. Jesus said the true disciples are known by their love for one another. A cult leader will lord over you claiming his authority is from God. A false evangelist would say he loves the lost and needs your money to reach them, but he will not truly love the brethren. We are to help the poor of this world but we are to take care of our own first, especially to those of the family of God, especially the least. It is so simple yet often neglected principle of the kingdom of God. The implications of being a child of God are tremendous, what we do to His children out weights any deeds that we would do for the world.
As a result you, no longer foreigners and aliens but you exist fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.*
A slave or servant doesn't abide in the house of God forever but a son does. Can I treat the sons of God as slaves and servants? It is about you child. In the name of the service of God I can not mistreat the household of God. And the world is not fooled by such, they say things like Christians shoot their wounded or they sacrifice their own weak and wounded. Though we might claim it is for Jesus such is not, it is like the world climbing over one another to be great. The kingdom of God is not like the world, thus being great in the house of God is not a place to climb over others, lording, it is a place to serve Jesus our Lord and leader. Nor is it a stewardship of unwilling service, nor a place for personal gain... It is as Jesus said, the first become last to serve, to take in hand God's children, the least of these. We can associate the last becoming first with what Paul writes is the purpose of the Church, the work of ministry, to build up the least of these His brethren so they become great, reflecting the glory and holy character of the kingdom. The great become last to equip the least, so that the children become mature in the kingdom of God, this is discipleship. "Now, whosoever causes to stumble one of these little ones, the ones believing on me, it is expedient for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea."* So if we judge our weak brother and cause him to stumble are we serving Christ? What is done to the child of God is no trivial matter.
A child of God is born of God, he is blessed with a Spirit of adoption whom cries Daddy Father. This child is dearly loved by Him. What I do to this child I do to Christ, this we can take literally. If I take this precious child in hand and Christ is in him, then literally I do or take into my hands Christ. If I give this child a cold drink then I give a cold drink to Christ. If I visit the child in the ward of an orphanage, hospital, prison, I visit and take in hand Christ. If I visit him in the ward of sin, or any place of burden and weakness, the law of Christ says to lift the burden of my weaker brother. Look again at the parable of the workers, the first were envious of the last. This envy we see also in the parable of the wicked tenants. No longer is it about the kingdom of God, it has become a place of earthly gain, no longer seeking first His kingdom and righteousness. They place themselves first, to the point that they eventually take the position of ownership, of a lord, of leaders and rulers, enslaving the least, I am in first, I have authority so do as I say, this is my ministry, my calling, you are here to serve me...
The mind of the wicked says they are first, deserving of a better wage. The parable of the wicked tenants say they even neglected the authority of the owner's son, killing him.* The parable of the workers tells us the wage for all workers is the same. These parables tell us the kingdom of God is not a kingdom of this earth, but it exists in us. Many followed Jesus for earthly reasons, they wanted an earthly king, earthly food, but when proven, when Jesus added they must labor for and eat bread from heaven, food that endures unto life, they could not partake of it, why? because they did not seek him for the right reason, so the kingdom was not granted to them.* We also see that maturity in the kingdom of God is not based upon earthly physiology. If I come to Christ late in life, physically I am an adult but spiritually I am a child. The wage of each worker is the same so the focus of the first should be on equipping the last, thus the least becomes first and the first become last.
Now, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things near you.*
Hopefully we see in new light what it means to seek first the kingdom of God. Who are the first in the kingdom of God? His dearly loved children. Why do the great become servants? to mature his children. If the great have become mature they will be like Christ putting the child first for the purpose of maturity into His image, the holy character of God, this is consecration. To seek first the kingdom of God is to put what is proper, first, placed most important in the kingdom of God. Though the gifts of evangelism, giving... are given to the Church, the work of ministry is for the least of these, to take children in hand, to build them up so they are mature, which reflects the image of Christ. These children are the praise of His glory. What are the greatest gifts in regards to this? now, abides faith, hope, and love. Seeking first His righteousness speaks of our reasonable service and high calling to become holy, which means we are to share in His holy character. Truth in love we grow up into the full measure of Him. The bond of love leads to perfection, thus how great is love in regards to maturity! Perfection is in truth, so those who abide in His words, abide in the truth and increase in faith. Perfection is becoming mature, transformed from glory to glory, into the full measure of the image of Christ. This is glory and He is the hope of glory. He who abides in hope, purifies himself just as He is pure. Seek first the kingdom of God; first things first, the first become last and the last become first.
Only Jesus