Matthew 20:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yet it shall not be so among you; instead, whoever desires to be great among you must be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave’ (vv. 25-27). Through these words, He illustrates that a craving for dominance is characteristic of the Gentiles. This tendency is indeed intense and often torments even the most esteemed, necessitating the strongest admonition. For this reason, He pierces their hearts, shaming their arrogant spirit by likening them to the Gentiles. He eradicates envy in some and pride in others, as if to communicate to them, ‘Do not take offense at those who seek superiority, for those who do so are often more humiliated than honored; they are the last. Our approach is different from that of the Gentiles. The rulers of the nations exercise authority over them, but in My kingdom, the last shall be first.’ What does Christ then do? He calls to them and says, ‘You know that the princes of the nations lord it over them.’ Since they were troubled, the Lord, recognizing their distress, calms them by summoning them and commanding them to come nearer to Him. And as before, He calls the others to convey to all what was shared in private, thus tempering their fervor.

Now, the Lord does not admonish the disciples in the same manner as before. He had previously gathered in the children and urged them to model their simplicity and humility. Yet now, addressing them with sharper admonition, He says, ‘You know that the rulers of the nations assert their dominance over them, but among you it shall not be so: whoever seeks greatness among you must be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you must become your servant.’ These declarations highlight that the ambition for superiority is a trait exclusive to the Gentiles. This spirit of ambition is indeed overpowering; it is a persistent affliction of prominent individuals, necessitating a profound response. Therefore, the Lord pierces their hearts, revealing their shameful attitudes by contrasting them with the Gentiles. He eradicates jealousy in some disciples and pride in others, implying, ‘Do not harbor resentment toward those who seek dominance, for those who pursue such ambitions are themselves more embarrassed; they find themselves among the last.’ ‘We do not operate as the Gentiles do. The rulers of the nations dominate; but with Me,’ says the Lord, ‘the last is first.’ Further emphasizing His instruction, He adds, ‘Consider the example of My life: I have acted in accordance with My words. As the Sovereign of all, I chose to become human, to be disregarded and belittled; and even more, I embraced death itself.’

"You are aware," the Lord began, gathering them close, "that worldly leaders derive their authority from being served, honored, and exalted. However, among you—my disciples—this must not be the case; no one should seek honor that comes at the expense of another. If any of you aspires to be great, let him serve you. And if anyone wishes to be first, let him be your servant. Remember," the Lord continued, redirecting their attention to a vital truth they had overlooked, "the Son of Man, who is worthy of all glory, did not come into the world to conquer nations and receive worldly accolades as many mistakenly believe. Rather, He came to bestow blessings upon others and to sacrifice His very life for the redemption of mankind. In this way, despite their inability to reconcile the dignity of the Messiah with the realities of His suffering and death, Jesus reiterated the primary purpose for His coming. Such frequent and emphatic reminders should have steered the disciples away from their ambitions forever; however, their deep-rooted expectations of an earthly kingdom for the Messiah lingered, preventing the crucifixion and resurrection from fully dispelling them. Even after the resurrection, when the Master first appeared to them, they questioned, “Have you restored the kingdom of Israel at this time?” Only the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost revitalized their spirits, eradicating their worldly misconceptions, allowing them to echo the sentiment of St. Paul by declaring, "Though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we no longer do so."

Strive to serve in every way possible; opportunities for service present themselves constantly: feed the hungry, clothe those in need, welcome the stranger into your home, visit the sick, and offer assistance to anyone in need. This extends not only to physical needs but also to the spiritual welfare of others: provide guidance, share wisdom, offer uplifting literature, and give comfort and encouragement. The spoken word is a potent tool for support; it connects souls and strengthens one another.

Similarly, if you consistently follow My teachings and fulfill My commands, do not let pride swell within you or elevate yourselves, for you will merely be fulfilling the divine will of God and undertaking the responsibilities He has entrusted to you.

But in My kingdom it is not so: the greater and the first must be the servant and slave of all; must be conscious of himself as inferior to all, and must be ready for all self-denial.” This does not imply that the Church lacks structure or authority, as the Lord Himself bestowed a higher authority upon the apostles over other believers. Rather, His teaching highlights the moral essence of the relationships between leaders and those they lead within the Church. The Lord’s words illustrate that the desire for prominence is characteristic of the Gentiles, creating turmoil for both common and notable individuals alike and necessitating a profound transformation. By addressing their hearts, He humbles their pride and dispels their envy by contrasting them with the ways of the Gentiles.

For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." With this teaching, Jesus addressed the disciples' ambitions at the very foundation, emphasizing that His mission was not about earthly power, but rather about suffering and sacrificial death for humanity’s sins. The Apostles needed to learn from their Master’s example that true glory comes from humility and selfless service for the benefit of others—glory that is profound and everlasting, rather than fleeting and superficial.