Matthew 19:30 (WEB)
But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.
Fathers and councils · 32
Irenaeus of Lyons
“For this reason did the Lord declare that the first should in truth be last, and the last first.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 30, Matt. xx. 16.
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Augustine of Hippo
Chapter LXIII.—Of the Little Children on Whom He Laid His Hands; Of the Rich Man to Whom He Said, “Sell All that Thou Hast;” Of the Vineyard in Which the Labourers Were Hired at Different Hours; And of the Question…
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John Chrysostom
““For many,” saith He, “that are first shall be last, and the last first.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 30.
Read the whole comment“When He had then raised the spirit of all, and had persuaded them to feel confidence both with respect to themselves and to all the world, He added, that “Many that were first shall be last, and last first.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 30. [“were” is an emendation of the translator. The Greek is that of the rec. text.—R.]
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Jerome
“Whosoever is last is here regarded as first.” — editor's note: Cf. Matt. xix. 30.
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Tertullian
“Parents, wives, children, will have to be left behind, for God’s sake.” — editor's note: Luke xiv. 26; Mark x. 29, 30; Matt. xix. 27–30. Compare these texts with Tertullian’s words, and see the testimony he thus gives to the deity of Christ.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Peter had heard the word of Christ when He said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast.” Then he observed that the young man had departed sorrowful, and considered the difficulty of riches entering…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What was this “all,” O blessed Peter? The reeds, your net, and boat. But this he says, not to call to mind his own magnanimity, but in order to propose the case of the multitude of poor. A poor man might have said,…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
It may be said, In all things which the Father revealed to Peter that the Son was, righteousness, sanctification, and the like, in all we have followed Thee. Therefore as a victorious athlete, he now asks what are…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Because to forsake is not enough, he adds that which makes perfection, “and have followed thee.” We have done what thou commandedst us, what reward wilt thou then give us? What shall we have?”
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
He said not only, “Ye who have left all,” for this did the philosopher Crates, and many other who have despised riches, but added, “and have followed me,” which is peculiar to the Apostles and believers. [ed. note: ~…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
The disciples had followed Christ in the regeneration, that is, in the laver of baptism, in the sanctification of faith, for this is that regeneration which the Apostles followed, and which the Law could not bestow.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or it may be constructed thus, “Ye which have followed me, shall in the regeneration sit, &c.;” that is, when the dead shall rise from corruption incorrupt, you also shall sit on thrones of judges, condemning the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thus our flesh will be regenerated by incorruption, as our soul also shall be regenerated by faith.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For it would come to pass, that in the day of judgment the Jews would allege, Lord, we knew Thee not to be the Son of God when Thou wast in the flesh. For who can discern a treasure buried in the ground, or the sun…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He therefore said not the Gentiles and the whole world, but, the “tribes of Israel,” because the Apostles and the Jews had been brought up under the same laws and customs. So that when the Jews should plead that they…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Their following Christ in thus exalting the Apostles to twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel, associated them in the glory of the twelve Patriarchs.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
From this passage we learn that Jesus will judge with His disciples; whence He says in another place to the Jews, “Therefore shall they be your judges.” [Matt 12:27] And whereas He says they shall sit upon twelve…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
In the number of judges therefore are included all that have left their all and followed the Lord.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
For whosoever, urged by the spur of divine love, shall forsake what he possesses here, shall without doubt gain there the eminence of judicial authority; and shall appear as judge with the Judge, for that he now in…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
The same holds good, by reason of this number twelve, of those that are to be judged. For when it is said, “Judging the twelve tribes,” yet is not the tribe of Levi, which is the thirteenth, to be exempt from being…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, by that, “In the regeneration,” Christ designs the period of Christianity that should be after His ascension, in which men were regenerated by baptism; and that is the time in which Christ sat on the throne of…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; He holds out rewards in the future life to the Apostles, because they where already looking above, and desired nothing of things present; but to others He promises things present.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; whosoever shall leave all and follow Christ, he also shall receive those things that were promised to Peter. But if he has not left all, but only those things in special here enumerated, he shall…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
There are that take occasion from this passage to bring forward the thousand years after the resurrection, and say that then we shall have a hundred fold of the things we have given up, and moreover life eternal. But…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
And in this world, because for his brethren after the flesh he shall find many brethren in the faith; for parents, all the Bishops and Presbyters; for sons, all that have the age of sons. The Angels also are…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
That He says, “An hundred fold,” is explained by the Apostle, when he says, “As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” [2 Cor 6:10] For a hundred is sometimes put for the whole universe.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
And that, “And every one that hath forsaken brethren,” agrees with that He had said before, “I am come to set a man at variance with his father.” [Matt 10:35] For they who for the faith of Christ and the preaching of…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But when He says, “He that has forsaken wife,” it is not to be taken of actual severing of the marriage tie, but that we should hold the ties of the faith dearer than any other. And here is, I think, a covert…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
But because many with what zeal they take up the pursuit of virtue, do not with the same complete it; but either grow cool, or fall away rapidly; it follows, “But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.”
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
By this He exhorts those that come late to the heavenly word, to haste to ascend to perfection before many whom they see to have grown old in the faith. This sense may also overthrow those that boast to have been…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
It may also be referred in particular to the rich man, who seemed to be first, by his fulfilment of the precepts of the Law, but was made last by his preferring his worldly substance to God. The holy Apostles seemed…
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Cross-references · 6
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 19:27–30 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 19:27–30 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 19:27–30 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 19:27–30 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 19:27–30 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 19:27–30 (2) (Catena Aurea).