But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

然而，有许多在前的，将要在后，在后的，将要在前。”

然而，有许多在前的，将要在后；在后的，将要在前。”

然而，有许多在前的，将要在后；在后的，将要在前。”

然而，许多为首的将要殿后，殿后的将要为首。”

然而许多在前的将要在后，在后的将要在前。”

不过许多在前的，将要在后；许多在后的，将要在前。”

然而，有許多在前的，將要在後，在後的，將要在前。」

然而，有許多在前的，將要在後；在後的，將要在前。」

然而，有許多在前的，將要在後；在後的，將要在前。」

然而，許多為首的將要殿後，殿後的將要為首。」

然而許多在前的將要在後，在後的將要在前。”

然而有許多首先的必成了末後的，末後的必成了首先的！』

不過許多在前的，將要在後；許多在後的，將要在前。」

然多有先者將為後、而後者先也、○

然先者多為後、後者多為先也、○

然多有先者將為後、後者將為先也、○

然亦多有先者居後、而後者居先者焉。』

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But many who are first will be last. And the last will be first.”

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But many[ that are] first shall be last; and the last first.

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”

But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

“ So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer:‘ I thank you, God, that I am not like other people— cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’“ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying,‘ O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

“ Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied,“ The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning:“ I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.

And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world— from east and west— and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.But many Israelites— those for whom the Kingdom was prepared— will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,“ I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

Then Jesus answered his thoughts.“ Simon,” he said to the Pharisee,“ I have something to say to you.”“ Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.Then Jesus told him this story:“ A man loaned money to two people— 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”Simon answered,“ I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”“ That’s right,” Jesus said.Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,“ Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.“ I tell you, her sins— and they are many— have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

When they heard this, all the people— even the tax collectors— agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John.But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared,“ It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.For the Lord gave us this command when he said,‘ I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.