The Dispute about Greatness

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.^(A)

True Greatness

⁴⁶ An argument arose among them concerning which one of them was the greatest.

³⁴ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.^(A)

³⁷ And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”^{(A) 38} But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”^{(B) 39} They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized,^{(C) 40} but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to appoint, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.

The Request of the Mother of James and John

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him.^{(A) 21} And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”^{(B) 22} But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”^[a] They said to him, “We are able.”^{(C) 23} He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”^(D)

²⁴ When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers.^(E)

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger must be subject to the elders.^[a] And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.

³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.^{(A) 4} Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.^{(B) 5} Let the same mind be in you that was^[a] in Christ Jesus,^(C)

⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant^(A)

¹⁰ love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

⁵ Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the spirit that God caused to dwell^[a] in us desire envy?^{(A) 6} But God gives all the more grace; therefore it says,