Matthew 23:8–12
The greatest among you will be your servant
Study it word by word8But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9And do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is your Father, the heavenly one.
10Nor be called instructors, because your instructor is one, the Messiah.
11But the greatest among you will be your servant.
12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
In its context
6and they hold dear the place of honor at the dinners and the first seats in the synagogues,
7and the greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
…
13But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not go in, nor do you allow those who are going in to go in.
14Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour the houses of widows and for show make long prayers; for this you will receive a greater condemnation.
Its words in the original
- κληθῆτεklēthēte· call
Call; name; invite.
- ῬαββίRhabbi· Rabbi
Rabbi: a Hebrew word that means "my teacher".
- εἷςheis· one
One.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- διδάσκαλοςdidaskalos· teacher
Teacher, one who teaches.
- ἀδελφοίadelphoi· brother
Brother. Also a close relative, a fellow countryman and, among believers, a brother in the faith.
- πατέραpatera· father, Father
Father; also ancestor.
- γῆςgēs· earth, land
Earth: the ground, a country, or the whole world.
- οὐράνιοςouranios· heavenly
Heavenly, of heaven, belonging to heaven.
- καθηγηταίkathēgētai· teacher, guide
Teacher, guide, master.
- χριστόςchristos· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- μείζωνmeizōn· great
Great, large.
- διάκονοςdiakonos· servant
Servant: someone who serves others; also deacon, a servant of the community.
- ὑψώσειhypsōsei· lift up
Lift up, raise high; exalt.
- ταπεινωθήσεταιtapeinōthēsetai· humble, bring low
Humble, bring low, abase; humble oneself, make oneself small.