God’s Word Translation
Matthew 20:27
27Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave.
Matthew 20:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
- New International Version (NIV)and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
- English Standard Version (ESV)and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
Context of Matthew 20:27
25Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 26But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave. 28It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” 29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus.
Read all of Matthew 20Matthew 20:27 word by word
καὶ ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος, ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Matthew 20:27
- Matthew 18:4Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Mark 9:33Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
- Luke 22:26But you’re not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant.
- Acts 20:34You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me.
- Romans 1:14I have an obligation to those who are civilized and those who aren’t, to those who are wise and those who aren’t.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19Although I’m free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them.
- 2 Corinthians 4:5Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake.
- 2 Corinthians 11:5I don’t think I’m inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
- 2 Corinthians 12:15I will be very glad to spend whatever I have. I’ll even give myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?
Commentaries on Matthew 20:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Your servant - the lowest secular office, as deacon was the lowest ecclesiastical office: is often put for slave. From these directions of our Lord, we may easily discern what sort of a spirit his ministers should be of. A minister of Christ is not to consider himself a lord over Christ's flock. He is not to conduct the concerns of the Church with an imperious spirit. He is to reform the weak, after Christ's example, more by loving instruction than by…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 See also Mark 10:35-45. Matthew 20:20 Then came to him give mother of Zebedee‘s children - This was probably Salome, Mark 15:40; Mark 16:1. With her sons - The names of these sons were James and John, Mark 10:35 Mark says they came and made the request. That is, they made it, as appears from Matthew, through the medium of their mother; they requested her to ask it for them. It is not improbable that she was an ambitious woman, and was…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 The sons of Zebedee abused what Christ said to comfort the disciples. Some cannot have comforts but they turn them to a wrong purpose. Pride is a sin that most easily besets us; it is sinful ambition to outdo others in pomp and grandeur. To put down the vanity and ambition of their request, Christ leads them to the thoughts of their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk of; a cup of trembling, but not the cup of the wicked. It is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27Often the word slave is a metaphor that describes a disciple's submissive relationship to their master (Matthew 8:9; 10:24–25; 24:45–51; 25:14–30). The disciples of Jesus serve others, following his example (for example, John 13:1–17).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 20:27
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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