Interpretation of the Bible / Matthew 20:26-27

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.

Matthew 20:26-27 is written in the context of a discussion about greatness in the kingdom of God. The disciples James and John, along with their mother, approached Jesus to ask permission to sit on His right and left sides in His glory.

Jesus responded by telling them that they did not know what they were asking for, since they could not drink from the same cup of suffering that He did, and that they must humble themselves to follow His example. Jesus then teaches them that greatness in the kingdom of God is not achieved through power or authority, but through service and humility.

What does it mean to serve others?

The Gospel of Matthew presents us with this phrase from the lips of Jesus, who is speaking to His disciples to teach them about the importance of service and humility in their lives. In these verses, Jesus teaches them that it is not about seeking glory, power, or authority, but about serving others and being available to them.

The word "slave" comes from the Latin "servus." However, in the context of this verse, it is not about forced or imposed slavery, but about a personal choice to serve others. Being a servant means putting the needs of others above your own, humbling yourself before them, and being willing to help.

Book: New Testament / Matthew

Topics: humility, neighbor, serving, slavery

Attention! This is one of the possible interpretations based on the comments of famous theologians, which may differ from each other. If the interpretation is taken from other languages, then there may be a distortion of meaning when translating the language. Matthew 7:7-8

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