Matthew 20:27

27 Whoever wants to become first among you must serve the rest of you like a slave.

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 Jesus called all the followers together and said, "You know that the rulers of the non-Jewish people love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority.

26 But it should not be that way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant.

27 Whoever wants to become first among you must serve the rest of you like a slave.

28 In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

29 When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, a great many people followed him.