Marco 9:35

35 Ed egli postosi a sedere, chiamò i dodici e disse loro: Se alcuno vuol essere il primo, dovrà essere l’ultimo di tutti e il servitor di tutti.

Marco 9:35 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:35

And he sat down
As their master, as one having authority; and in order to examine into this matter, and pass judgment upon it:

and called the twelve;
all the disciples, who though they might not be all engaged in this dispute, nor equally criminal, yet were all, possessed of the same notion; and therefore Christ calls them all unto him, what he had to say, being pertinent unto them all:

and saith unto them, if any man desire to be first;
to have the pre-eminence, and be in the chief place in the kingdom of the Messiah,

the same shall be last of all, and servant of all:
his pride and vanity shall be checked; his ambitious views shall be frustrated; instead of being first, he shall be last; and instead of having superior reverence and respect, he shall be debased, and treated with neglect and contempt; and instead of being the master over others, shall be the servant of all. Some copies read, "let him be"; and so the Persic version, "let him be last, and minister to every one"; and the Ethiopic thus, "let him subject himself to all, and be servant to all"; for the only way to preferment in Christ's kingdom, or in the Gospel dispensation, is humility and meekness, and performing the lowest services to all, with diligence and cheerfulness.

Marco 9:35 In-Context

33 E vennero a Capernaum; e quand’egli fu in casa, domandò loro: Di che discorrevate per via?

34 Ed essi tacevano, perché per via aveano questionato fra loro chi fosse il maggiore.

35 Ed egli postosi a sedere, chiamò i dodici e disse loro: Se alcuno vuol essere il primo, dovrà essere l’ultimo di tutti e il servitor di tutti.

36 E preso un piccolo fanciullo, lo pose in mezzo a loro; e recatoselo in braccio, disse a loro:

37 Chiunque riceve uno di tali piccoli fanciulli nel nome mio, riceve me; e chiunque riceve me, non riceve me, ma colui che mi ha mandato.