Matthew 20:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In their moment of distress, the Lord calms His followers before engaging them with words, inviting them to draw closer to Him. Two disciples, separated from the larger group, stood near Jesus, conversing with Him privately. He thus calls the others, aiming to share the private discourse and soothe the emotions stirred among them all. However, the Lord now addresses His disciples differently than He did previously. Earlier, He had placed children in their midst and urged the disciples to mirror their innocence and humility. Now, in a firmer admonition, He draws a stark contrast, declaring, "You know that the rulers of the nations exercise authority over them and their leaders are tyrants; yet it shall not be so among you.

For my followers, true honor lies in being humble; thus, anyone aspiring to greatness must serve those who are most vulnerable: this exemplifies the utmost humility.

The gentle and humble Teacher did not chastise His two followers for their excessive desire for recognition, nor did He reprimand the other ten apostles for their anger and jealousy. Instead, He illustrated a profound truth: the one who is greatest is the one who serves, and the true leader is the servant of all. Thus, those who pursue their desires in excess find no fulfillment, as the highest form of virtue is achieved not through great authority but through the practice of humility.

It shall not be the same among you, My own. He goes on to instruct how one can attain greatness. Just as He previously referred to the same individuals as princes and nobles, here He refers to the same person as great and foremost. He speaks publicly for the benefit of everyone. He notes that it is characteristic of the Gentiles to exercise authority over others; however, He establishes a principle for you: gain prominence through serving and submitting to others. The one who embraces this will be recognized as Great and foremost, and will share in My authority.

We were created to reflect the likeness of Christ, to emulate His will and actions. What purpose would there be in being fashioned after His glory if not for this? While He took on our humanity, we cannot fully mirror His divine nature. Yet, we are made in His image, allowing us to discern what is pleasing to Him as being good and what is displeasing to Him as being evil. Those who seek worldly accolades do not embody the image of Christ, for humility is the essence of the Lord. When someone covets material wealth in this world, while the Lord cherishes simplicity, they stray from reflecting Christ’s nature. A true disciple must follow in the footsteps of their teacher, just as an authentic image must bear a true resemblance to its creator.

However, it should not be the case among you (as it will not be in My kingdom): whoever desires to be greater than you must become your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your servant, viewing himself as lesser than all, prepared to relinquish any sense of superiority and to selflessly sacrifice for the sake of his neighbor's salvation. "The passion for ambition continually disturbs and irritates those in positions of power," as St. Chrysostom notes, "thus demanding even the mightiest defeat." This is why the Lord reaches into the very depths of their hearts, exposing the prideful spirit that compares itself to the non-believers. He brings an end to envy in some and to arrogance in others. With Me, He states, the last shall be first. Consider Me.

Teaching in Humility The appeal made by James and John sparked resentment among the other disciples. Upon hearing their complaints, Jesus gathered them and stated: "You are aware that in this world, the authorities of the nations exercise dominion over them, and the high-ranking individuals govern them (Matt. 20:25); yet My kingdom is fundamentally different from the earthly empires. Therefore, if anyone desires to enter My kingdom, they must not behave in this manner: anyone aspiring to greatness must become a servant to all, and anyone wanting to be first must be the servant of all. I did not come into this world to dominate others, nor to be served, but to serve and to offer My life as a ransom for many. Therefore, follow My example. If you consistently obey My commands and fulfill all that I ask of you, remember not to harbor pride or elevate yourselves, for you are merely doing God's will and fulfilling the responsibilities He has entrusted to you.

Having gathered all twelve of His disciples, Christ reiterated to them the fallacies in their understanding of the kingdom of heaven. He once again clarified its true significance, which stands in stark contrast to the kingdoms of this world.

"Calling them": Since they were distressed, the Lord first calms them by summoning them to come closer, prior to offering verbal reassurance. The two disciples, who were separated from the ten, were in proximity to Jesus, conversing with Him in solitude. He called for the others as well, intending to disclose to all what was shared privately, thereby easing the fervor felt by both groups. The Lord then imparts to them the fundamental principle of morality for members of His kingdom—humility and self-denial, in stark contrast to the ethics of pagan societies. In pagan cultures, it is customary for leaders to dominate their subjects, and for the wealthy to exert control over the impoverished.

The words of the Savior revealed to the sons of Zebedee that they lacked a genuine understanding of their request. This dialogue, though held away from the apostles, quickly became known to the other ten, leading to murmurs and discontent among them, as they felt offended by the desire for prominence shown by their peers. In response to their anger, the Lord gathered those who were upset and clarified the fundamental principle of Gospel morality—love for one another, enriched by authentic humility: “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.