English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
24
Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest.
25 And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
25
But Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles.
26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
26
It's not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.
27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
27
"Who would you rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You'd rather eat and be served, right? But I've taken my place among you as the one who serves.
28 "You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,
28
And you've stuck with me through thick and thin.
29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
29
Now I confer on you the royal authority my Father conferred on me
30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
30
so you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and be strengthened as you take up responsibilities among the congregations of God's people.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.