But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
The greatest among Christ's followers is to be their servant, and true greatness is shown not by rank, title, or position but by moral worth in living for the welfare of others in works of love and mercy. Christ himself is the pattern of this greatness, for though King of glory He served fallen humanity, as when He washed the disciples' feet. Spoken in His final day of teaching in the temple in exposing the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, it rebukes all exalting of human authority to rule the conscience and was meant for people of every nation and age. It must be obeyed to the letter, forbidding dependence on man, religious titles, and seeking the highest place to lord it over God's people, and requiring all to remember they are brethren under one Master and Father and to labor humbly in Christ's self-denying spirit for the salvation of others. Those who so humble themselves and serve will be exalted to glory, honor, and eternal life, while seeking to rule over others endangers souls.
Setting and True Meaning
The words were spoken on Jesus' final day of teaching in the temple, in the course of exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and lawyers in the temple courts. They were meant to instruct those who listened to Him then and to reach people of every nation and age.
He that is greatest among His disciples and followers shall be their servant, and greatness among them is shown by serving others. This greatness is not shown by seeking homage or honor from others, but by humbly doing duty to glorify God rather than to win praise. Those who so obey to the letter will receive glory, honor, and eternal life.
Greatness is measured by moral worth rather than by rank, honor, title, or position. The truly great live for the welfare of others and do works of love, kindness, and mercy. This reverses the world's standards of status, contrasting humble service with worldly ambition and the pursuit of honor or power.
Christ Himself exemplifies this greatness, for though King of glory He served fallen humanity. He is the model of service, as demonstrated when He washed the disciples' feet rather than seeking the highest place. Those who serve in His spirit humble themselves and become fit for the Lord to honor safely.
Rebuke of Human Authority
The saying belongs to Christ's recorded warnings, scathing rebukes and woes against the scribes and Pharisees for their impenitence and opposition to truth and righteousness. It rebukes their undue assumption of authority in exalting human authority to rule the conscience, and warns the people not to follow such blind leaders. These denunciations and warnings against blind leaders were placed on record and preserved as an admonition to future generations.
Christ foresaw that this spirit would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews but would continue to be manifested in all ages. It has been a terrible curse to the church in all ages among those making high profession of piety who refuse to examine the Scriptures, who point to numbers, wealth and popularity, and who look with contempt on advocates of truth. Even lawful authority may be held yet used for unlawful ends, as the priests did in Jesus' day, in direct opposition to greatness shown by service. As the Jewish nation was led through teachers whom the people had been taught from infancy to reverence and implicitly obey to reject their Redeemer, so the same scathing rebukes and woes would be spoken today to priests and rulers for the same impenitence and opposition to truth and righteousness.
No one disciple is designated as leader over the others, for greatness among Christ's disciples and followers is expressed through being servant and not through authoritative status over fellow believers. Peter's conduct at the Jerusalem council gives no support to claims that he held supreme authority. Those who follow his example take no position of authority over their brethren but stand on an equality with them.
Living as Humble Servants
The command to be servant to others is to be obeyed to the letter, not merely read and believed, for reading without doing leaves a person unjustified. Doing means serving rather than seeking homage or honor from fellow believers.
Dependence is not to be placed on any human being, and no living person is to be allowed to take God's place in the mind. Homage, praise, petting, and honor are not to be expected from others, religious titles are not to be taken, and the highest place with authority to rule and lord it over God's people is not to be sought. Even when the prejudices, errors, instability of opinion, and partiality of action in others are clearly seen, that sight gives no ground for feeling superior, measuring self by self, leaning to one's own understanding, or living in spiritual pride. Such pride, Pharisaism, and human plans that displace divine instruction stand opposed to the spirit of Christ, in whom self is to be hidden.
All are brethren under one Master and one Father in heaven, and even the best of men have limited ability. The deficiencies seen in others should therefore produce less self-confidence and a jealous watch over one's own spirit and action. Duty is to be pursued meekly and humbly to glorify God rather than to be honored, walking in humility before God with Christ's perfection of character set against one's own weakness and imperfection. Reform of self comes first, with humbling of self to bear the cross, following Christ's self-denial, and laboring in His spirit for the salvation of others.
Those who thus serve and humble themselves will be exalted and will receive glory, honor, and eternal life. By humbling themselves they become fit to be honored safely by the Lord. The closer people come to Jesus the less they desire status, while still working to reach the high standard God sets. Seeking instead to lord it over others endangers souls and can result in their loss.
The greatest among Christ's followers is to be their servant, and true greatness is shown not by rank, title, or position but by moral worth in living for the welfare of others in works of love and mercy. Christ himself is the pattern of this greatness, for though King of glory He served fallen humanity, as when He washed the disciples' feet. Spoken in His final day of teaching in the temple in exposing the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, it rebukes all exalting of human authority to rule the conscience and was meant for people of every nation and age. It must be obeyed to the letter, forbidding dependence on man, religious titles, and seeking the highest place to lord it over God's people, and requiring all to remember they are brethren under one Master and Father and to labor humbly in Christ's self-denying spirit for the salvation of others. Those who so humble themselves and serve will be exalted to glory, honor, and eternal life, while seeking to rule over others endangers souls.
Setting and True Meaning
The words were spoken on Jesus' final day of teaching in the temple, in the course of exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and lawyers in the temple courts. They were meant to instruct those who listened to Him then and to reach people of every nation and age.
He that is greatest among His disciples and followers shall be their servant, and greatness among them is shown by serving others. This greatness is not shown by seeking homage or honor from others, but by humbly doing duty to glorify God rather than to win praise. Those who so obey to the letter will receive glory, honor, and eternal life.
Greatness is measured by moral worth rather than by rank, honor, title, or position. The truly great live for the welfare of others and do works of love, kindness, and mercy. This reverses the world's standards of status, contrasting humble service with worldly ambition and the pursuit of honor or power.
Christ Himself exemplifies this greatness, for though King of glory He served fallen humanity. He is the model of service, as demonstrated when He washed the disciples' feet rather than seeking the highest place. Those who serve in His spirit humble themselves and become fit for the Lord to honor safely.
Rebuke of Human Authority
The saying belongs to Christ's recorded warnings, scathing rebukes and woes against the scribes and Pharisees for their impenitence and opposition to truth and righteousness. It rebukes their undue assumption of authority in exalting human authority to rule the conscience, and warns the people not to follow such blind leaders. These denunciations and warnings against blind leaders were placed on record and preserved as an admonition to future generations.
Christ foresaw that this spirit would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews but would continue to be manifested in all ages. It has been a terrible curse to the church in all ages among those making high profession of piety who refuse to examine the Scriptures, who point to numbers, wealth and popularity, and who look with contempt on advocates of truth. Even lawful authority may be held yet used for unlawful ends, as the priests did in Jesus' day, in direct opposition to greatness shown by service. As the Jewish nation was led through teachers whom the people had been taught from infancy to reverence and implicitly obey to reject their Redeemer, so the same scathing rebukes and woes would be spoken today to priests and rulers for the same impenitence and opposition to truth and righteousness.
No one disciple is designated as leader over the others, for greatness among Christ's disciples and followers is expressed through being servant and not through authoritative status over fellow believers. Peter's conduct at the Jerusalem council gives no support to claims that he held supreme authority. Those who follow his example take no position of authority over their brethren but stand on an equality with them.
Living as Humble Servants
The command to be servant to others is to be obeyed to the letter, not merely read and believed, for reading without doing leaves a person unjustified. Doing means serving rather than seeking homage or honor from fellow believers.
Dependence is not to be placed on any human being, and no living person is to be allowed to take God's place in the mind. Homage, praise, petting, and honor are not to be expected from others, religious titles are not to be taken, and the highest place with authority to rule and lord it over God's people is not to be sought. Even when the prejudices, errors, instability of opinion, and partiality of action in others are clearly seen, that sight gives no ground for feeling superior, measuring self by self, leaning to one's own understanding, or living in spiritual pride. Such pride, Pharisaism, and human plans that displace divine instruction stand opposed to the spirit of Christ, in whom self is to be hidden.
All are brethren under one Master and one Father in heaven, and even the best of men have limited ability. The deficiencies seen in others should therefore produce less self-confidence and a jealous watch over one's own spirit and action. Duty is to be pursued meekly and humbly to glorify God rather than to be honored, walking in humility before God with Christ's perfection of character set against one's own weakness and imperfection. Reform of self comes first, with humbling of self to bear the cross, following Christ's self-denial, and laboring in His spirit for the salvation of others.
Those who thus serve and humble themselves will be exalted and will receive glory, honor, and eternal life. By humbling themselves they become fit to be honored safely by the Lord. The closer people come to Jesus the less they desire status, while still working to reach the high standard God sets. Seeking instead to lord it over others endangers souls and can result in their loss.