Matthew 20:27

27 And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him take the lowest place:

Matthew 20:27 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 20:27

And whosoever will be chief among you
Or first, or have the pre-eminence, the first place in the kingdom of the Messiah,

let him be your servant;
or, as in Mark, shall be servant of
all:
not only a minister, but a servant; not a servant of some only, but of all. This was verified in the Apostle Paul, who became a servant to all men, though he was free, that he might gain some to Christ; and by so doing was the chief, though he reckoned himself the least of the apostles, yea, less than the least of all saints. The Jews have a saying somewhat like this, that ^F8

``everyone that makes himself (dbek) , as a servant, for the words of the law in this world, shall be made free in the world to come.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 35. 2.

Matthew 20:27 In-Context

25 But Jesus said to them, You see that the rulers of the Gentiles are lords over them, and their great ones have authority over them.

26 Let it not be so among you: but if anyone has a desire to become great among you, let him be your servant;

27 And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him take the lowest place:

28 Even as the Son of man did not come to have servants, but to be a servant, and to give his life for the salvation of men.

29 And when they were going out from Jericho, a great number went after him.