And sitting down, he called the twelve and saith to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all and be minister of all.
οι δε εσιωπων προς αλληλους γαρ διελεχθησαν εν τη οδω τις μειζων
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He encouraged them to embrace humility and authenticity. A child is free from jealousy and pride, as well as the desire for dominance. Children inherently embody the finest qualities of innocence, modesty, and humility. Thus, we require not only bravery and wisdom but also these virtues—humility and simplicity.
The Lord, while He does not prohibit us from seeking greater honor (for He encourages us to strive for higher positions), does not allow us to usurp the prominence of others. Instead, He desires that we achieve elevation through humility.
Avoid any form of pride among yourselves, but embrace humility, unity, and a genuine spirit free from pretense. Each individual should consider himself not just as lesser than his brother, but as lower than all others; for grasping this truth will genuinely reflect one’s status as a follower of Christ (cf. Galatians 5:13-14).
Ultimately, the Lord, having already provided an example of self-denial by agreeing that no tribute should come from Him, intended to further illustrate the importance of this quality within His followers. He took a child and set it among them (traditionally believed to be Ignatius the Theologian) and proclaimed that all must become like children in spirit to truly belong to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of the Messiah—characterized by simplicity and humility. Those who aspire to be greater than others must become like this child; the more one embodies a childlike disposition, the less one will focus on personal status or dignity. In contrast, those who desire to be first must serve as the last of all (Mk. 10:35).
The humility displayed by the Son of Man prevented the lesson on humility from being solely based on His own example. Embracing the child with loving kindness, He further stated that whoever welcomes this child in His name welcomes Him; in the same way, He welcomes all His disciples—be it Peter, Andrew, Philip, or Thomas. It is not the appearance of the messenger that matters, but the name of the one who sends him. My Father regards everyone with the same love. Therefore, why seek prominence over one another?
In the Gospel of Luke, it is noted that Jesus, aware of the thoughts residing in the hearts of His disciples, taught them the principle of humility. Similarly, the Gospel of Mark recounts an occasion when Christ arrived at a house in Capernaum and inquired about the topic of their conversation. When they fell silent, embarrassed by their reluctance to admit they had discussed the matter of greatness among themselves, He began to impart lessons on humility. The Gospel of Matthew further reveals that the disciples approached Jesus and inquired, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" There is evidently no discrepancy between the accounts of Luke and Mark.
Regarding Matthew’s narrative, it is plausible that the disciples were initially quiet until one of them took the initiative to ask the question that was on everyone's mind.
In response to their query, Jesus, as reported by Mark, initially articulated the fundamental principle of interpersonal relations within His new kingdom: "Whoever desires to be first must be the last of all and a servant of all." Following this, He positioned a child among them and, as Mark notes, embraced the child, teaching that the qualities of children—such as their unselfconsciousness, lack of pretentiousness, and innocence regarding social status—serve as the essence of the Christian virtue of humility. This quality is essential for true members of the kingdom of heaven.
Subsequently, Jesus instructed His apostles on how to treat children and outlined the proper demeanor they should adopt towards them, stating, "Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me." By this, Jesus not only refers to natural children, who are indeed vulnerable and have not yet earned merit before God through faith and good works, but He primarily emphasizes the attitude of the apostles toward spiritual children—new believers who, like natural children, may be weak in faith and not yet fortified in deeds of piety.
Jesus addressed them, saying, “Anyone desiring to be first must be the servant of all.” Recognizing that their thoughts were evident to Him, the apostles turned to Him, seeking clarity in their confusion and disputes, asking, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They struggled to abandon their Jewish interpretations of the Messiah's kingdom, likening it to earthly realms and contemplating their status within it. They had already been instructed that greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is reserved for those who choose to be last on earth, who do not dominate or oppress others but instead serve them wholeheartedly. Yet, their understanding fell short, as they approached Jesus again with their question about who holds the greatest rank in the kingdom.
Observing their lack of comprehension and their cling to worldly notions of authority, Jesus embraced a child and said, “You argue about rank in the kingdom of heaven, vying for the most esteemed positions among my disciples. Such ambition, pride, and desire for glory are misleading you. You have overlooked my teaching that only the humble, gentle, and pure in spirit shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I tell you once more, unless you turn away from pride and ambition and adopt a spirit of humility and gentleness, not only will you not be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, but you will be barred from it altogether. Unless you become like children, free from these vices, you cannot enter. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is of greater significance in the Kingdom of Heaven; he will be my true disciple. Moreover, understand this: whoever receives such a little one in my name, assists him in his needs, and serves him is receiving me. And because I dwell in the Father and the Father dwells in me, whoever receives me also receives the Father who sent me.”
As they journeyed toward Capernaum, a dispute arose among them about who would hold the highest position in the kingdom of heaven. The Savior overheard their debate, and upon reaching the city, He inquired about their conversation on the way. This prompted a realization in them, leading to their embarrassment. Christ then took a child and placed him among them, urging them to possess a childlike spirit—innocent, humble, and unpretentious—as it was only then that they could enter the kingdom of heaven. In this symbolic manner, He reiterated the teaching He had imparted during the Sermon on the Mount, which they had completely overlooked.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 12 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS