24 Now there
was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the
greatest. 25 And He
said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called
‘benefactors.’ 26 But
not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him
be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For
who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it
not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 “But
you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And
I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that
you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.”
Vs. 24 “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.”
Even though Jesus was trying to prepare the twelve for His upcoming betrayal, their thoughts were elsewhere, not on what was going to occur, but only on which of them should be considered the greatest. Which is sad given what Jesus was about to suffer for them and for all. Nonetheless Jesus is not upset at them for this, instead He turns their misdirected thoughts and desires into bringing forth great truths about the Kingdom of God and how greatness is found in it.
Vs. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’
In the ancient world kings exercised lordship over people, singularly controlling all aspects of the nation and people they ruled. While their appointees who exercised their will over the nation and the people’s affairs were called “benefactors”. Not that they really benefited anyone, other than the king, by keeping him and his family secure, and making them and themselves richer and richer.
Vs. 26 “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.”
And so, in stark contrast to this world’s values, where “greatness” is very often selfishly sought and pursued to harm or neglect of one’s fellow person, Jesus gives us all a course correction, by saying that this must not be so among us, where one strives to hold lordship over others so that those they rule will be servants of them. Instead Jesus, “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” Thus, the whole hierarchal and patriarchal way of viewing and treating each other must not exist amongst us as disciples of Christ. Thus, church Pastors, leaders, deacons and elders, rich or poor brethren, men or woman, old or young, all must see themselves as equal in Christ, and equally worthy of each other’s service. For again Jesus says that the greatest amongst us is not he who “rules” but he who serves. Therefore, in the churches economy we are to treat each other with dignity and respect and strive to be servants of each other, regardless of our or their status or standing.
Vs. 27 “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
Jesus now gives us an easy analogy to understand this by asking the disciples who is greater, he who sits at the table and is served, or the one who serves them? Now in the eyes of men it is always he who is being served, and yet as the Lord Jesus Christ says of Himself, He is among the disciples as One who serves. Therefore, Jesus reveals that down here as disciples of Christ it is not, he who sits at the table, rather it is he who serves. For understand that the Lord Jesus Christ though He is the Greatest of all, came to us all as God’s Servant to bear the iniquities of us all so that we maybe saved! (consider Isaiah 49:1-13; 50:1-11; 52:13-53:12). Therefore, we too must grow and develop such a heart in us by serving those around us, for when we do, we are truly serving our God and Savior (Col. 3:23-25).
Vs. 28-30 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Here the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that He sees in the twelve (and us all who believe in Him) the faith and loyalty to continue on with Him until the end. Therefore, He promises to bestow on us all a Kingdom in which He will reign forever (Vs. 28). And so even though the disciples will temporarily forsake Jesus when He is arrested, He can now confidently affirm to them that He will bestow upon them a Kingdom, just as the Father bestowed one upon Him (vs. 29). Whereupon they will eat and drink at His table in His Kingdom in the Millennial reign and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Therefore, neither they (nor we) need to worry about pursuing “greatness” in this life, for we who believe in Him and endure and overcome will all reign with Christ (1 Cor. 4:8-13; Rev. 5:10; 20:4, 6; 22:5).
Scripture Quotations
Vs. 24 “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.”
Even though Jesus was trying to prepare the twelve for His upcoming betrayal, their thoughts were elsewhere, not on what was going to occur, but only on which of them should be considered the greatest. Which is sad given what Jesus was about to suffer for them and for all. Nonetheless Jesus is not upset at them for this, instead He turns their misdirected thoughts and desires into bringing forth great truths about the Kingdom of God and how greatness is found in it.
Vs. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’
In the ancient world kings exercised lordship over people, singularly controlling all aspects of the nation and people they ruled. While their appointees who exercised their will over the nation and the people’s affairs were called “benefactors”. Not that they really benefited anyone, other than the king, by keeping him and his family secure, and making them and themselves richer and richer.
Vs. 26 “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.”
And so, in stark contrast to this world’s values, where “greatness” is very often selfishly sought and pursued to harm or neglect of one’s fellow person, Jesus gives us all a course correction, by saying that this must not be so among us, where one strives to hold lordship over others so that those they rule will be servants of them. Instead Jesus, “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” Thus, the whole hierarchal and patriarchal way of viewing and treating each other must not exist amongst us as disciples of Christ. Thus, church Pastors, leaders, deacons and elders, rich or poor brethren, men or woman, old or young, all must see themselves as equal in Christ, and equally worthy of each other’s service. For again Jesus says that the greatest amongst us is not he who “rules” but he who serves. Therefore, in the churches economy we are to treat each other with dignity and respect and strive to be servants of each other, regardless of our or their status or standing.
Vs. 27 “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
Jesus now gives us an easy analogy to understand this by asking the disciples who is greater, he who sits at the table and is served, or the one who serves them? Now in the eyes of men it is always he who is being served, and yet as the Lord Jesus Christ says of Himself, He is among the disciples as One who serves. Therefore, Jesus reveals that down here as disciples of Christ it is not, he who sits at the table, rather it is he who serves. For understand that the Lord Jesus Christ though He is the Greatest of all, came to us all as God’s Servant to bear the iniquities of us all so that we maybe saved! (consider Isaiah 49:1-13; 50:1-11; 52:13-53:12). Therefore, we too must grow and develop such a heart in us by serving those around us, for when we do, we are truly serving our God and Savior (Col. 3:23-25).
Vs. 28-30 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Here the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that He sees in the twelve (and us all who believe in Him) the faith and loyalty to continue on with Him until the end. Therefore, He promises to bestow on us all a Kingdom in which He will reign forever (Vs. 28). And so even though the disciples will temporarily forsake Jesus when He is arrested, He can now confidently affirm to them that He will bestow upon them a Kingdom, just as the Father bestowed one upon Him (vs. 29). Whereupon they will eat and drink at His table in His Kingdom in the Millennial reign and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Therefore, neither they (nor we) need to worry about pursuing “greatness” in this life, for we who believe in Him and endure and overcome will all reign with Christ (1 Cor. 4:8-13; Rev. 5:10; 20:4, 6; 22:5).
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.
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