God’s Word Translation
Matthew 20:28
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.”
Matthew 20:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- New International Version (NIV)just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
- New King James Version (NKJV)just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Context of Matthew 20:28
26But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 27Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave. It’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. 30Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Read all of Matthew 20Matthew 20:28 word by word
ὥσπερ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθεν διακονηθῆναι ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Even asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
- the Sonὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- of manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- notοὐou · noG3756
- to be ministered untoδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- to giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- lifeψυχήpsuchē · soul: lifeG5590
- a ransomλύτρονlutron · ransomG3083
- forἀντίanti · forG473
- manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
Cross-references for Matthew 20:28
- Luke 22:27Who’s the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant? Isn’t it really the person who sits at the table? But I’m among you as a servant.
- John 13:4So he got up from the table, removed his outer clothes, took a towel, and tied it around his waist.
- Philippians 2:4Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.
- Hebrews 5:8Although Jesus was the Son ⌞of God⌟, he learned to be obedient through his sufferings.
- Job 33:24then he will have pity on them and say, ‘Free them from going into the pit. I have found a ransom.’
- Psalms 49:7No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.
- Isaiah 53:5He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.
- Daniel 9:24“Seventy sets of seven time periods have been assigned for your people and your holy city. These time periods will serve to bring an end to rebellion, to stop sin, to forgive wrongs, to usher in everlasting righteousness, to put a seal on a prophet’s vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One.
- John 10:15So I give my life for my sheep.
- John 11:50You haven’t even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
- Romans 3:24They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟.
- Galatians 3:13Christ paid the price to free us from the curse that the laws in Moses’ Teachings bring by becoming cursed instead of us. Scripture says, “Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.”
- Ephesians 1:7Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness.
- Ephesians 5:2Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.
- 1 Timothy 2:6He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins. This message is valid for every era.
- Hebrews 9:28Likewise, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of humanity, and after that he will appear a second time. This time he will not deal with sin, but he will save those who eagerly wait for him.
Commentaries on Matthew 20:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28A ransom for many - , or a ransom instead of many, - one ransom, or atonement, instead of the many prescribed in the Jewish law. Mr. Wakefield contends for the above translation, and with considerable show of reason and probability. The word is used by the Septuagint for the Hebrew פדיו , pidion, the ransom paid for a man's life: see Exodus 21:30; Numbers 3:49-51; and is used Numbers 35:31, where a satisfaction (Hebrew כפר copher, an atonement) for the…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. 28The phrase the Son of Man … come: This expression suggests that Jesus already existed before his birth on earth. It points back to Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man coming from heaven to receive authority and glory (see Daniel 7:13–14). as a ransom for many: Jesus said he would freely give his life as a payment to rescue many people. His death brought freedom from the power and penalty of sin (see Matthew 26:26–29; Isaiah 53:10–12; Romans 3:24). In this…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 20:28
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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