Luke 22:24–27
The disciples argue about who is greatest, and Jesus says: I am among you as one who serves
Study it word by word24And there arose also a dispute among them as to which of them seemed to be the greatest.
25And he said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors.
26But you are not so; rather let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.
27For who is greater, the one who reclines at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
In its context
22For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is handed over!”
23And they began to discuss among themselves which of them then it might be who was going to do this.
…
28And you are those who have remained with me in my trials;
29and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
Its words in the original
- ἘγένετοEgeneto· become, happen
Become, happen, come about; be born.
- φιλονεικίαphiloneikia· dispute
Dispute, rivalry, love of quarreling.
- δοκεῖdokei· think, seem
Think, suppose, seem; also be held in high regard.
- εἶναιeinai· be
Be, exist.
- μείζωνmeizōn· great
Great, large.
- εἶπενeipen· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- βασιλεῖςbasileis· king
King, one who reigns. In the Gospels, Jesus is the promised king of the Jews.
- ἐθνῶνethnōn· nation
Nation, people; in the plural, often the peoples who are not Israel.
- κυριεύουσινkyrieuousin· rule over, be lord
Be lord over, rule, have power over.
- ἐξουσιάζοντεςexousiazontes· have authority over
Have authority over, exercise power over; in the passive, be mastered by something.
- εὐεργέταιeuergetai· benefactor
Benefactor: a title of honor that rulers took for themselves.
- καλοῦνταιkalountai· call
Call; name; invite.
- νεώτεροςneōteros· young, new
New, recent; young.
- ἡγούμενοςhēgoumenos· lead, consider
Lead, go in front, rule; "leader", "ruler". Also think, consider, regard.
- διακονῶνdiakonōn· serve
Serve, attend to; also serve at table.
- ἀνακείμενοςanakeimenos· recline at table
Recline at table, eat.
- οὐχὶouchi· not
Not (in questions that expect "yes").
- μέσῳmesōi· middle
Middle, in the midst.