Lesson 4444

(Lesson 4444)(04-03-24) Luke 22:24-27 

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” 

 

In today’s quote, a dispute arose among the apostles about which of them should be considered the greatest. Jesus addressed that contention by contrasting the worldly notion of greatness, where authority is exercised over others, with the principle of greatness in the Kingdom of God. He explained that the greatest among them should be like the youngest and the one who rules like the one who serves. Jesus then points to Himself as an example of that principle, stating that although He is their teacher and master, He is among them as one who serves. This passage underscores Jesus' teaching on servant leadership and the inversion of conventional social hierarchies in the pursuit of godly greatness.~