Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

18 At ^(B)that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

^46 (B)Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, ^(C)perceiving the thought of their heart, took a ^(D)little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, ^(E)“Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and ^(F)whoever receives Me ^(G)receives Him who sent Me. ^(H)For he who is least among you all will be great.”

Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

^33 (B)Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you ^[a]disputed among yourselves on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the road they had ^(C)disputed among themselves who would be the ^(D)greatest. ³⁵ And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ^(E)“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ Then ^(F)He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and ^(G)whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Greatness Is Serving^(A)

^20 (B)Then the mother of ^(C)Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

²¹ And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine ^(D)may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

²² But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink ^(E)the cup that I am about to drink, ^[a]and be baptized with ^(F)the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

²³ So He said to them, ^(G)“You will indeed drink My cup, ^[b]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

^24 (H)And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet ^(I)it shall not be so among you; but ^(J)whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ^27 (K)And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— ^28 (L)just as the ^(M)Son of Man did not come to be served, ^(N)but to serve, and ^(O)to give His life a ransom ^(P)for many.”

The Disciples Argue About Greatness

^24 (A)Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. ^25 (B)And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ ^26 (C)But not so among you; on the contrary, ^(D)he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. ^27 (E)For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet ^(F)I am among you as the One who serves.

¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for ^(A)of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, ^(B)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will ^(C)by no means enter it.”

^3 (A)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but ^(B)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Greatness Is Serving^(A)

^35 (B)Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

³⁷ They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the ^(C)cup that I drink, and be baptized with the ^(D)baptism that I am baptized with?”

³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, ^(E)“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; ⁴⁰ but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those ^(F)for whom it is prepared.”

^41 (G)And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. ⁴² But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ^(H)“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ^43 (I)Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even ^(J)the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and ^(K)to give His life a ransom for many.”

¹¹ But ^(A)he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.