But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater shall be your minister.
ουχ ουτως δε εσται εν υμιν αλλ ος εαν θελη γενεσθαι μεγας εν υμιν εσται υμων διακονος
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
However, He states, "My disciples are different; whoever wishes to be significant among them must serve everyone." This reflects the characteristic of a noble spirit, which is to be patient with all and to serve the needs of all.
Even though the other disciples did not hear this dialogue, they quickly discerned its topic. This understanding led to some dissatisfaction and murmuring among them, which, while not entirely unfounded in their pursuit of prominence, was ultimately futile, as they were chasing after something unattainable. Peter, who was as notable among Jesus' followers as the sons of Zebedee, had just as much right to feel discontent, but he never reached such a level of devotion that he sought to dominate the other disciples. He was content with the Master's assurance that each of them would be granted a special place of honor. The collective discontent of the disciples provided a valuable opportunity for Jesus to teach them about humility and mutual love.
“You are aware,” He said, gathering them closely, “that worldly rulers derive their power from being served and followed, celebrated and exalted. Yet, among you, My disciples, this should not be the case; no one should aspire to greatness at the expense of others. If anyone wishes to be the greatest, let that person be your servant. And if someone strives to be first, let them be your servant. Do not forget,” He added, addressing a matter they had overlooked but which now held great significance, “that the Son of Man, to whom all glory belongs, did not come into the world, as many mistakenly believe, to triumph over nations or to seek accolades and privileges from others. Rather, His purpose was to offer service to others and to lay down His life for the salvation of humanity. Therefore, while the disciples struggled to reconcile their ideas about the Messiah's majesty with His suffering and death, Jesus consistently reiterated that His primary reason for coming was to endure these trials. This frequent emphasis might have deterred them from their ambitious aspirations altogether; however, their strong bias towards an earthly kingdom for the Messiah prevented them from fully grasping this truth, even with the cross and Calvary as pivotal reminders. After the resurrection, when the Master first appeared to them, they asked, “Have you restored the kingdom to Israel at this time?” Only the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost truly revitalized them, dispelling their worldly notions and allowing them to echo St. Paul's words: "Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer.”
Observe how thoughtfully and gently He admonishes and corrects the misconceptions of His followers, elevating their focus from earthly matters to celestial ones. He illustrates that the actions of the Gentiles—those who serve worldly interests—stand in stark contrast to the mission of His disciples. The influential leaders, as you are aware, pursue self-interest and surround themselves with their own kind; those who excel among them tend to be either wealthy or of esteemed status, often overshadowing others. However, you, my disciples, who are not of this world but belong to the heavens, must not lead your lives in such a manner. Rather, if anyone among you aspires to greatness, let him serve others; and whoever wishes to be first must become a servant to all.
But why does servitude and servanthood elevate an individual? It is because one who serves and submits to others embodies the quality of humility. Humility, in turn, raises a person in the sight of all, conferring true and everlasting prominence: he who humbles himself will be exalted. The humble are granted grace (Luke 14:11; Proverbs 3:34). May the God-Man instill this divine teaching in the hearts of His followers and provide Himself as a model for them.
Although the Lord did not explicitly promise to grant the request of the sons of Zebedee, their proposal ignited feelings of jealousy among the other apostles, leading them to harbor resentment toward James and John. In response, the Lord summoned them and imparted a teaching on humility, exemplifying this noble virtue through His own life.
Gathering His twelve disciples, Christ reiterated the misconceptions they held about the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing its genuine significance as fundamentally different from the kingdoms of this world.
From the Savior's declaration, the sons of Zebedee realized their ignorance regarding their request. Though this dialogue happened away from the apostles, it quickly became known to the other ten, leading to discontent and frustration among them towards those vying for prominence, which caused offense to others. Consequently, the Lord called upon those who were upset and clarified for them the essential principle of Gospel ethics—mutual love rooted in true humility: “Behold, as the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” With this teaching, Jesus Christ addressed the ambitious inclinations of His disciples directly, indicating that His mission was not for earthly power but rather to endure suffering and sacrificial death for humanity’s transgressions. The apostles needed to learn from their Master’s example that the path of humility and selfless service to others is the genuine route to glory—one that is not fleeting and empty, but everlasting and true.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 17 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS