In the purely historical sense, the Lord’s covenant program commences with His chosen people, the House of Israel, who are dispersed as servants among the nations of the world to convey the good news of salvation and exaltation according to the Abrahamic commission. The Gentile peoples who are adopted into the fold, last of all, receive of the Lord’s abundance, just as the first. Should the first fall short, they would be chastened, scattered, and gathered once more, at last, unto their reward. Thus the last would be first, and the first would be last.
In the sense of the Lord’s grace and mercy, all are equally rewarded as they return home in obedience. Even those who come into the fold at the eleventh hour receive a reward equal to those who labored early in the Lord’s vineyard—for the gift of eternal life is the Lord’s to give. In the parable of the laborers (Matthew 20:1–16) the lord of the vineyard hires workers at the beginning of the day, agreeing to give them a penny for their labors. As it turns out, those whom he later hires at different stages of the day under the condition that “whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive” (Matthew 20:7) also receive their penny. When the first take issue with the outcome, thinking that they should have received more, the lord of the vineyard teaches them that he is the judge by asking,
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:15–16).