Disciples Reclining at the Table Beside an Untouched Basinby emmanuel_higgins
22:24Luke 22:24
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
At the last Passover meal on the final evening before His suffering and death, even as He had just spoken of His betrayer, His disciples fell into strife among themselves. Their dispute was over which of them should be accounted the greatest, meaning who should be most honored and hold the highest place in His kingdom. They still clung to the hope that He would assert His power, be made king and establish a temporal kingdom at Jerusalem, each longing for the highest place in it despite His repeated teaching about His coming agony and death. The contention sprang from jealousy, worldly ambition, self-confidence and selfishness, stirred especially by Judas, and it grieved Christ and kept them from the blessing He longed to give them. He checked them by teaching that unlike Gentile kings the greatest must be as he that serves, and then without a word took the servant's place and washed their feet, showing that true greatness is expressed in humble service to others.
Time and Cause of Strife
The strife broke out at the last Passover meal the disciples held with their Lord, on the last evening spent with Him in the last hours before He offered Himself as a sacrifice, shortly before His suffering and death as He faced Gethsemane and the cross. It came even as He had just spoken of His betrayer, during that Passover supper which was their last meeting with Him before His death. They argued over which of them should be accounted the greatest, meaning who should be most honored and hold the highest place in Christ's kingdom, the promised kingdom, and the kingdom of heaven. Each claimed honor for himself, longing for the highest place in that kingdom.
They still clung to the idea that Jesus would assert His power, be made king, establish a temporal kingdom in Jerusalem and take His position on the throne of David, despite His express and repeated teaching to the contrary about the true nature of His kingdom and His coming agony and death. They still thought He was soon to be made king and to claim power, and each wanted the highest place in the kingdom they thought He would establish. The demonstrations and honor shown at His entry into the city, and the manner in which He received them, had revived that hope. Their desire for rank, worldly glory, and a throne blinded them to His teaching and kept them from understanding it.
The dispute arose from jealousy over honored place, worldly ambition for rank and glory, assurance and presumptuous self-confidence, and selfishness. They compared their abilities and qualifications, debated who would best advance the kingdom, each put his own estimate upon himself and one another, and put himself first instead of regarding his brethren as more worthy. There were whisperings, flushed faces, tempers heated by contention, and jealous, angry, resentful feelings, with hearts filled with selfishness instead of being in a right frame of mind to receive great blessing. Satan made a determined effort at that time to arouse contention, angels were present unseen and listened with regret, and bitterness and dissension marred their fellowship and Christ's last evening with them.
The request of James and John to sit on the right and left of Christ's throne had excited the indignation of the ten until alienation threatened, as they felt misjudged and that their fidelity and talents were not appreciated. Judas was most severe and especially harsh toward the brothers. The dispute was generally stirred up by Judas, whose suggestions, selfish ambitions, and critical influence fed their ambition for worldly position, spread among them, and turned their attention from important things they should have considered. Many of their struggles for supremacy and much of their dissatisfaction originated with him.
Entering the supper room with resentful hearts, Judas pressed next to Christ on the left and John on the right, Judas being determined to have what was thought the highest place next to Christ even though he was a traitor, showing his desire for the highest position persisted. They were divided by resentful feelings and ambition over who should be considered greatest. The same pride kept each from doing the servant's work of foot-washing for which pitcher, basin, and towel stood ready, revealing lack of humility and that selfish ambition kept them from understanding Christ's teaching about loving service and true humility.
The strife grieved and wounded Christ and filled His heart with sorrow to see them yielding to strife with selfish hearts. He waited in silence in their presence, unable to give the warning and comfort He longed to impart that would have saved them from anguish, disappointment, and unbelief. He could not then tell them the things He had hoped to speak to stay their hearts when He would walk no more with them, because they were not ready to listen. Their selfishness and contention kept them from receiving the blessing they could have had.
Their frequent contending as to who should be greatest proves Christ gave Peter no preference nor power above the other disciples and delegated no special authority to one of them as head. For if He had selected one as head they would at once have submitted to His wish and paid honor to the one chosen.
Christ's Humble Rebuke
Jesus first met the disciples' reach for honor with plain teaching that the rulers of the nations dominate through lordship, but among His own the one counted greatest must become as the younger and the one who leads as the one who serves, for He Himself stood among them as One who serves. He then drove that word home by action, for though He was the most exalted and honored One and the One they called Lord and Master, He humbled Himself without a word, laid aside His outer garment, wrapped Himself with a towel as a servant, took the lowliest place of service, and washed their feet while their dispute was still fresh, near the close of His earthly ministry at their last gathering before His suffering. Their quarrel had shown their lack of humility and unreadiness for the solemn events before them, each claiming honor for himself, yet He answered their ambition by serving them in this menial office and by making His example a lesson in humility especially for gospel ministers.
That silent service opened their eyes and showed them themselves in a new light, leaving them too astonished and ashamed to speak, filling their hearts with bitter shame and humiliation, making the dispute seem insignificant, and giving them an experience that stayed with them and that they would remember as long as life lasted. Their selfishness and contention had kept them from receiving the blessing they might have had, but now shame replaced argument as they saw their condition. By this sharp contrast between their self-exalting contest for greatness and His lowly service, He rebuked the seeking of one's own preference at the expense of others and taught that true greatness is expressed in serving others, that self-exaltation and selfishness must give way to humility and service, and that the one who serves humbly may be safely honored because he has Christ's Spirit. Greatness is therefore to be sought in humility with the aim of glorifying God rather than in strife and ambition for high place or human praise.
He thereby gave an act of humility and love to impress their mutual obligations, that instead of quarreling and striving for place and honor each should count the others better than himself, exercise loving care for others, and wash one another's feet as He had done to them. True humility and unselfish ministry consist in such ministry to one another, for their great error was seeking to be first and to be regarded as greater than their associates. The same episode exposes assurance and presumptuous self-confidence even in those who know the truth, the very self-confidence in which Peter fell on that last evening after the supper when Jesus had just spoken of His betrayer. It teaches not to fix the eyes on what men attempt to do and not to trust in what poor, finite beings suppose they are able to do, but to have strong, persevering faith and entire trust in Christ as Leader and in what Christ will do.
End of Rivalry Today
Striving for supremacy and seeking to become the greatest springs from selfish principles and love of dignity and position, it is contrary to Christian fellowship, and such ambition must never come into the mind nor be once named, for there is to be no contention as to who shall be greatest but followers are to stand together without contending for greatness. That strife for supremacy will cease among the people of God when the storm of persecution really breaks upon them, for in view of the common peril they will draw together and present a united front to the enemy, with no disputing as to who shall be accounted greatest, but each cleaving to Christ and rejoicing in Him as personal Saviour. Afterward, in earnest prayer for fitness to meet men and to speak words in daily intercourse that would lead sinners to Christ, the disciples put away all differences and all desire for supremacy and came close together in Christian fellowship. As they drew nearer to God they realized what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ, and sadness filled their hearts as they thought how many times they had grieved Him by slowness of comprehension and failure to understand the lessons He was trying to teach them for their good.
The contention ceases when the truth is practiced and when God's people are obedient to all His commandments, giving place to love that brings peace and joy into the home and usefulness into the church, honors the Redeemer, and fulfills the command to let light shine in good works before men to glorify the Father in heaven. Striving to be first and to have supremacy comes from envy and jealousy cherished in the heart, and where that envy is present Christ is not present. It is the opposite of loving one another as Christ loved and of having the love of Jesus and the law of God in the heart, whereas in heaven there is no struggling to be first or to have supremacy but peace and rest where all love their neighbor as themselves, so giving up this strife and loving one another is part of getting ready for heaven and calls for earnest self-examination.
Striving for supremacy is out of place because Jesus alone is to be exalted, and ability, success, talent, and wisdom are entrusted by God rather than made by people themselves, to be used wisely in His service and for His glory rather than to draw attention to oneself. Because growth, development, and success depend wholly on Christ, no one has grounds for boasting or claiming superiority, but greatness is to be sought in humility with the aim of glorifying God. Followers are to let the Lord Jesus be their instructor, take the words of Christ, and be glad to obtain counsel from lips that never err and from a heart that responds to every sincere desire. They are to let no man interpose himself between them and their Redeemer or succeed in discouraging them, for they are bought with the price of Christ's precious blood, and they are to cling to the Mighty One who paid the ransom price for their souls that they might have eternal life, having faith in Him, being uplifted by the words He speaks in the Scriptures, and being of good courage in the Lord.
The same spirit has no place among Christian physicians, who are to recognize one another as fellow workers and brethren united as branches of the same vine rather than compete for status. It applies equally to canvassers and gospel ministers, whose positions are equal, forbidding acting from selfish motives such as selling only the cheapest and easiest books for greater personal gain while neglecting the books that give most light, because the field must be worked from a missionary standpoint. The same spirit of rivalry appears when people compete to excel in recreation, fostering strife and selfishness, offending God, and diverting money and thought from caring for souls and advancing His work.
At the last Passover meal on the final evening before His suffering and death, even as He had just spoken of His betrayer, His disciples fell into strife among themselves. Their dispute was over which of them should be accounted the greatest, meaning who should be most honored and hold the highest place in His kingdom. They still clung to the hope that He would assert His power, be made king and establish a temporal kingdom at Jerusalem, each longing for the highest place in it despite His repeated teaching about His coming agony and death. The contention sprang from jealousy, worldly ambition, self-confidence and selfishness, stirred especially by Judas, and it grieved Christ and kept them from the blessing He longed to give them. He checked them by teaching that unlike Gentile kings the greatest must be as he that serves, and then without a word took the servant's place and washed their feet, showing that true greatness is expressed in humble service to others.
Time and Cause of Strife
The strife broke out at the last Passover meal the disciples held with their Lord, on the last evening spent with Him in the last hours before He offered Himself as a sacrifice, shortly before His suffering and death as He faced Gethsemane and the cross. It came even as He had just spoken of His betrayer, during that Passover supper which was their last meeting with Him before His death. They argued over which of them should be accounted the greatest, meaning who should be most honored and hold the highest place in Christ's kingdom, the promised kingdom, and the kingdom of heaven. Each claimed honor for himself, longing for the highest place in that kingdom.
They still clung to the idea that Jesus would assert His power, be made king, establish a temporal kingdom in Jerusalem and take His position on the throne of David, despite His express and repeated teaching to the contrary about the true nature of His kingdom and His coming agony and death. They still thought He was soon to be made king and to claim power, and each wanted the highest place in the kingdom they thought He would establish. The demonstrations and honor shown at His entry into the city, and the manner in which He received them, had revived that hope. Their desire for rank, worldly glory, and a throne blinded them to His teaching and kept them from understanding it.
The dispute arose from jealousy over honored place, worldly ambition for rank and glory, assurance and presumptuous self-confidence, and selfishness. They compared their abilities and qualifications, debated who would best advance the kingdom, each put his own estimate upon himself and one another, and put himself first instead of regarding his brethren as more worthy. There were whisperings, flushed faces, tempers heated by contention, and jealous, angry, resentful feelings, with hearts filled with selfishness instead of being in a right frame of mind to receive great blessing. Satan made a determined effort at that time to arouse contention, angels were present unseen and listened with regret, and bitterness and dissension marred their fellowship and Christ's last evening with them.
The request of James and John to sit on the right and left of Christ's throne had excited the indignation of the ten until alienation threatened, as they felt misjudged and that their fidelity and talents were not appreciated. Judas was most severe and especially harsh toward the brothers. The dispute was generally stirred up by Judas, whose suggestions, selfish ambitions, and critical influence fed their ambition for worldly position, spread among them, and turned their attention from important things they should have considered. Many of their struggles for supremacy and much of their dissatisfaction originated with him.
Entering the supper room with resentful hearts, Judas pressed next to Christ on the left and John on the right, Judas being determined to have what was thought the highest place next to Christ even though he was a traitor, showing his desire for the highest position persisted. They were divided by resentful feelings and ambition over who should be considered greatest. The same pride kept each from doing the servant's work of foot-washing for which pitcher, basin, and towel stood ready, revealing lack of humility and that selfish ambition kept them from understanding Christ's teaching about loving service and true humility.
The strife grieved and wounded Christ and filled His heart with sorrow to see them yielding to strife with selfish hearts. He waited in silence in their presence, unable to give the warning and comfort He longed to impart that would have saved them from anguish, disappointment, and unbelief. He could not then tell them the things He had hoped to speak to stay their hearts when He would walk no more with them, because they were not ready to listen. Their selfishness and contention kept them from receiving the blessing they could have had.
Their frequent contending as to who should be greatest proves Christ gave Peter no preference nor power above the other disciples and delegated no special authority to one of them as head. For if He had selected one as head they would at once have submitted to His wish and paid honor to the one chosen.
Christ's Humble Rebuke
Jesus first met the disciples' reach for honor with plain teaching that the rulers of the nations dominate through lordship, but among His own the one counted greatest must become as the younger and the one who leads as the one who serves, for He Himself stood among them as One who serves. He then drove that word home by action, for though He was the most exalted and honored One and the One they called Lord and Master, He humbled Himself without a word, laid aside His outer garment, wrapped Himself with a towel as a servant, took the lowliest place of service, and washed their feet while their dispute was still fresh, near the close of His earthly ministry at their last gathering before His suffering. Their quarrel had shown their lack of humility and unreadiness for the solemn events before them, each claiming honor for himself, yet He answered their ambition by serving them in this menial office and by making His example a lesson in humility especially for gospel ministers.
That silent service opened their eyes and showed them themselves in a new light, leaving them too astonished and ashamed to speak, filling their hearts with bitter shame and humiliation, making the dispute seem insignificant, and giving them an experience that stayed with them and that they would remember as long as life lasted. Their selfishness and contention had kept them from receiving the blessing they might have had, but now shame replaced argument as they saw their condition. By this sharp contrast between their self-exalting contest for greatness and His lowly service, He rebuked the seeking of one's own preference at the expense of others and taught that true greatness is expressed in serving others, that self-exaltation and selfishness must give way to humility and service, and that the one who serves humbly may be safely honored because he has Christ's Spirit. Greatness is therefore to be sought in humility with the aim of glorifying God rather than in strife and ambition for high place or human praise.
He thereby gave an act of humility and love to impress their mutual obligations, that instead of quarreling and striving for place and honor each should count the others better than himself, exercise loving care for others, and wash one another's feet as He had done to them. True humility and unselfish ministry consist in such ministry to one another, for their great error was seeking to be first and to be regarded as greater than their associates. The same episode exposes assurance and presumptuous self-confidence even in those who know the truth, the very self-confidence in which Peter fell on that last evening after the supper when Jesus had just spoken of His betrayer. It teaches not to fix the eyes on what men attempt to do and not to trust in what poor, finite beings suppose they are able to do, but to have strong, persevering faith and entire trust in Christ as Leader and in what Christ will do.
End of Rivalry Today
Striving for supremacy and seeking to become the greatest springs from selfish principles and love of dignity and position, it is contrary to Christian fellowship, and such ambition must never come into the mind nor be once named, for there is to be no contention as to who shall be greatest but followers are to stand together without contending for greatness. That strife for supremacy will cease among the people of God when the storm of persecution really breaks upon them, for in view of the common peril they will draw together and present a united front to the enemy, with no disputing as to who shall be accounted greatest, but each cleaving to Christ and rejoicing in Him as personal Saviour. Afterward, in earnest prayer for fitness to meet men and to speak words in daily intercourse that would lead sinners to Christ, the disciples put away all differences and all desire for supremacy and came close together in Christian fellowship. As they drew nearer to God they realized what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ, and sadness filled their hearts as they thought how many times they had grieved Him by slowness of comprehension and failure to understand the lessons He was trying to teach them for their good.
The contention ceases when the truth is practiced and when God's people are obedient to all His commandments, giving place to love that brings peace and joy into the home and usefulness into the church, honors the Redeemer, and fulfills the command to let light shine in good works before men to glorify the Father in heaven. Striving to be first and to have supremacy comes from envy and jealousy cherished in the heart, and where that envy is present Christ is not present. It is the opposite of loving one another as Christ loved and of having the love of Jesus and the law of God in the heart, whereas in heaven there is no struggling to be first or to have supremacy but peace and rest where all love their neighbor as themselves, so giving up this strife and loving one another is part of getting ready for heaven and calls for earnest self-examination.
Striving for supremacy is out of place because Jesus alone is to be exalted, and ability, success, talent, and wisdom are entrusted by God rather than made by people themselves, to be used wisely in His service and for His glory rather than to draw attention to oneself. Because growth, development, and success depend wholly on Christ, no one has grounds for boasting or claiming superiority, but greatness is to be sought in humility with the aim of glorifying God. Followers are to let the Lord Jesus be their instructor, take the words of Christ, and be glad to obtain counsel from lips that never err and from a heart that responds to every sincere desire. They are to let no man interpose himself between them and their Redeemer or succeed in discouraging them, for they are bought with the price of Christ's precious blood, and they are to cling to the Mighty One who paid the ransom price for their souls that they might have eternal life, having faith in Him, being uplifted by the words He speaks in the Scriptures, and being of good courage in the Lord.
The same spirit has no place among Christian physicians, who are to recognize one another as fellow workers and brethren united as branches of the same vine rather than compete for status. It applies equally to canvassers and gospel ministers, whose positions are equal, forbidding acting from selfish motives such as selling only the cheapest and easiest books for greater personal gain while neglecting the books that give most light, because the field must be worked from a missionary standpoint. The same spirit of rivalry appears when people compete to excel in recreation, fostering strife and selfishness, offending God, and diverting money and thought from caring for souls and advancing His work.