²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—

²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,^(A) and the one who rules like the one who serves.^(B)

³³ They came to Capernaum.^(A) When he was in the house,^(B) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.^(C)

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(D)

⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves,^(A) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(B) and ourselves as your servants^(C) for Jesus’ sake.

⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^(A)

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(B) to win as many as possible.^{(C) 20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(D) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(E) so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(F) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(G) so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(H) I have become all things to all people^(I) so that by all possible means I might save some.^{(J) 23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

¹⁴ I am obligated^(A) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(A) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

¹⁵ So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(A) If I love you more,^(B) will you love me less?