Luke 22:25

25 But he said to them, Kings of heathen men be lords of them, and they that have power on them be called good doers, [Forsooth he said to them, Kings of heathen men be lords, or lordship, of them, and they that have power upon them be called good doers,]

Luke 22:25 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 22:25

And he said unto them
The disciples; that is, Jesus said to them, as the Syriac and Persic versions express: the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;
by which our Lord would dissuade his disciples from seeking to introduce a superiority over one another, since this was the practice of the Heathens, of the men of the world, of ignorant Gentiles; whereas Christ's kingdom was a spiritual kingdom, and not of this world, and therefore, not to be managed in such a way. And they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors;
either by themselves, or by their court flatterers, to cover their ambition, tyranny, and cruelty. Two of the King's of Egypt were called by the name Euergetes ^F16; the word that is here used, and translated "benefactors"; and it was commonly given to other kings, princes, and men in power: so Cyrus was called by the Armenians; Antigonus by the Greeks; and Phylacus among the Persians: the same name was given to Mithridates king of Pontus, to Titus Aelius Hadrianus, to Menander, to Marcus Aurelius Severus, and to Cato Uticensis, and others ^F17.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Alex. ab. Alexandro Genial. Dier. l. 1. c. 2.
F17 Vid. Cuper. Inscript. & Marmora. p. 283, 284.

Luke 22:25 In-Context

23 And they began to seek among them[selves], who it was of them, that was to do this thing.

24 And strife was made among them, which of them should be seen to be greatest.

25 But he said to them, Kings of heathen men be lords of them, and they that have power on them be called good doers, [Forsooth he said to them, Kings of heathen men be lords, or lordship, of them, and they that have power upon them be called good doers,]

26 but ye not so; but he that is greatest among you, be made as a younger [be made as the younger], and he that is [a] before-goer, as a servant.

27 For who is greater, he that sitteth at the meat, or he that ministereth? whether not he that sitteth at the meat? And I am in the middle of you [Forsooth I am in the midst of you], as he that ministereth.