Luke 22:27
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Spoken at the last supper while the disciples were heatedly contending over who should be accounted greatest and still expecting a temporal kingdom, it answered their selfish strife for first place. It contrasts the kings of the Gentiles who exercise lordship with the rule that among His own it shall not be so, but the greatest must be as the younger and the chief as one who serves, declaring that He Himself is among them as one who serves. Without a word He proved it by laying aside His outer garment, girding Himself as a servant, and in solemn tenderness washing their feet though Lord and Master. Greatness is thus not lordship but lowly humble service, the law of life in heaven and earth by which the Father and angels minister, and which is written upon all nature where every living and lifeless thing takes in order to give. His followers are therefore to have no contention for honor or position but to count others better than self, wash one another's feet, and find highest joy in ministering with burning love to the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick and imprisoned as done to Him Himself.
Setting and Meaning
Jesus spoke these words on the last evening He spent with His disciples after the last Passover supper, in the last hours before He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the world. It was the disciples' last meeting with Him before His death, at the last sacred gathering before the crucifixion, near the hour of ascending to the Father. He hoped then to speak words that would stay their hearts for the time when He would walk no more with them and they would be left to struggle in the world after His suffering was over. But they were not ready to listen.
At that supper there was strife among them over which should be accounted the greatest, stirred even then while the shadow of death was upon Him. They came with selfish hearts and tempers heated by strife, filled with jealous and angry feelings toward one another. Each refused to take the servant's place and serve the others, held back by wounded pride. They still thought He was soon to be made king and each wanted the highest place in His kingdom, still clinging to the idea of a soon temporal kingdom in Jerusalem, revived by the demonstrations at His entry into the city despite repeated instruction to the contrary. Seeking to be first was their great error, bringing sorrow to Him and losing the blessing they would have received in a right frame of mind.
To meet this He set His followers over against the kings of the Gentiles who exercise lordship and are called benefactors, commanding that it shall not be so among them. Among them he that is greatest must be as the younger, and he that is chief as he that serves. He put the question whether he that sits at meat or he that serves is greater, affirming that in common reckoning it is he that sits, yet declaring that He Himself is among them as he that serves.
Without a word beyond the declaration He proved it by laying aside His outer garment, girding Himself with a towel as a servant, and washing the disciples' feet. He who did this was their Lord and Master, the most exalted and honored, the spotless Son of God, and He did it in solemn tenderness as one of the last tokens of His love for them. Though greater, He took the place as one that serves, and His condescension and humility appeared most conspicuous at that hour in menial work as a lesson of humility and loving ministration. The act in astonished shame opened their eyes to their selfishness and contention, exposed their condition and filled them with shame, a lesson they remembered for the rest of their lives.
Law and Work of Service
Greatness is not lordship like the kings of the Gentiles but lowly humble service, for the greatest must be as the younger and the chief as one who serves. The King of glory placed Himself among His own as one who serves, making humble service the pattern and measure of true greatness rather than seeking to be served or claiming the highest place. That refusal of the servant's place from wounded pride and seeking to be first was the great error, and His taking the servant's role gave the example to be followed. His service was deliberate and free from selfishness, undertaken to save a lost world. It expressed the law of God and the law of heaven's kingdom.
It is the great law of life in heaven and in earth, a law of service seen in Christ who came to the earth to serve. By that same service the infinite Father ministers to the life of every living thing, and the angels minister to the heirs of salvation. The same law governs all things and is shared throughout creation. It is written upon all nature, where birds, beasts, trees, leaves, grass, flowers, sun, stars, lake, ocean, river and spring each have their ministry and each takes in order to give. Each thing ministers to the life of others.
His serving life was devoted to meeting human need. He bore people's infirmities and sicknesses and came to remove sickness, misery, disease, wretchedness and sin. He brought complete restoration, health, peace and perfection of character. His service made people whole in body, mind and soul.
Following the Serving Lord
There is to be no contention over who will be accounted greatest and no competing for honor or position, for the greatest is to be as the younger and the chief as one who serves. Instead of quarreling for place, each is to count others better than self and to serve one another as he was served. He proved this without a word by laying aside the outer garment, girding Himself with a towel as a servant, and in solemn tenderness washing the disciples' feet, though Lord and Master, which opened their eyes in astonished shame. They are to follow that example and wash one another's feet and find happiness in doing it. He is to be taken as instructor, and His words in Scripture, spoken from lips that never err and from a heart that answers every sincere desire, are to be taken with gladness and courage.
The same meekness and humility seen in Him when He took the place as one who serves will be seen in His followers. They must become humble and teachable, improving their own talents to the utmost to honor God. They are to work in dependence and harmony with others as members of one body, neither despising the gifts of others nor depreciating the work of others nor looking with envy on superior talents or achievements. Like grain bending under full ripe ears when ripening for harvest, the more closely they resemble Him and the richer their character, the less disposition they will have to honor or exalt self, saying not unto us but unto His name give glory. Seeking one's own preference at the expense of others is contrary to His humble service, though He as the most exalted and honored humbled Himself to minister even when they had just disputed over who would be greatest, and such choices will be exposed when lives are truthfully reviewed.
The declaration that He is among His own as one who serves rebukes the selfish human desire to be served rather than to serve. It rebukes assurance and self-confidence in one's own right course. Love and loyalty to Him are the spring of all true service, creating the desire to work for Him. Strength lies not in what poor finite beings suppose they are able to do but in what will be done for them, calling for strong persevering faith and entire trust in the Leader. Those bought with the price of His precious blood as ransom for eternal life are to cling to the Mighty One and be true to Him, letting no one come between them and their Redeemer or discourage them.
That service finds its highest joy in serving the Lord with all humility of mind, doing appointed work to accomplish appointed purposes and not personal ends. The desire to work is to be encouraged and rightly guided in the home, the neighborhood, and the school. There the poor, the afflicted, the ignorant, and the unfortunate are to be regarded not as a misfortune but as precious opportunity for service, and skill and efficiency are gained only by training in the common duties of life and in ministry to the needy and suffering. The love in the heart makes a person an example to others and gives everyone met a correct conception of His love, His kindness, His self-denial, and the greatness of His mission.
The clear duty is to minister to fellow beings in hunger, thirst, homelessness, nakedness, sickness, and imprisonment, with the love of God burning in the heart, which is counted as ministry done to Himself. Those who so minister inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world and are received to the place He prepares where He is. Those with no sense of the blessing of ministry fail to do the will of God in this life, follow inclination, and will not appreciate heaven.
The thought of seeking to become greatest should never enter the mind, and selfish principles and love of dignity and position should not be once named among workers, but labor is to be from a missionary standpoint and not from selfish motives. A truth-loving canvasser occupies a position equal to that of the gospel minister, and it does not belittle a minister to canvass. Faithfulness requires placing before the people the books that will give most light rather than selling only the cheapest and easiest books to earn more money for self, and by this canvassing work ministers obtain varied experience and do the very work Paul did.
He washed the feet of all the disciples, including the one who would betray Him, and welcomed him to share in the sacrament. His example supports allowing all who wish to take part in the service and ordinances. No one can read hearts or reliably distinguish the faithful from the unfaithful.