Lukas 13:29-30

13:29 Then ¹  people ²  will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table ³  in the kingdom of God. ⁴  13:30 But ⁵  indeed, ⁶  some are last ⁷  who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

[13:29]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the discourse.

[13:29]  ² tn Grk “they”; the referent (people who will come to participate in the kingdom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:29]  ³ tn Grk “and recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away. The word “banquet” has been supplied to clarify for the modern reader the festive nature of the imagery The banquet imagery is a way to describe the fellowship and celebration of accompanying those who are included as the people of God at the end.

[13:29]  ⁴ sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

[13:30]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[13:30]  ⁶ tn Grk “behold.”

[13:30]  ⁷ sn Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. Jesus’ answer is that some who are expected to be there (many from Israel) will not be there, while others not expected to be present (from other nations) will be present. The question is not, “Will the saved be few?” (see v. 23), but “Will it be you?”