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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave--</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/20-27.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/40_Mat_20_27.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 20:27 - A Mother's Request" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave--" /><script type="application/javascript" 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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you, he will be your slave--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your [willing and humble] slave;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you, he will be your slave--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And whoever would be first among you, let him be your servant:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And whoever wishes to be first among you, let him be a servant to you;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/20.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />“And whoever wants to be first among you let him be a servant to you.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/20.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />And whoever will be first among you, let him be your servant;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/20.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>and whosoever may wish to be first among you, shall be your slave:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/20.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />and whosoever will be first, let him be your slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/20.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />and whoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/20.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>but whosoever wishes to become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever wishes to be first among you shall be your servant;<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/20.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>let him be your servant:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/20-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=5864" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm">A Mother's Request</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">26</span>It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hos (RelPro-NMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">whoever</a> <a href="/greek/302.htm" title="302: an (Prtcl) -- A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty."></a> <a href="/greek/2309.htm" title="2309: thelē (V-PSA-3S) -- To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. ">wants</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: einai (V-PNA) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">to be</a> <a href="/greek/4413.htm" title="4413: prōtos (Adj-NMS) -- First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.">first</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">among</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estai (V-FIM-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">must be</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: doulos (N-NMS) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">slave—</a> </span> <span class="reftext">28</span>just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-44.htm">Mark 10:44</a></span><br />and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-26.htm">Luke 22:26</a></span><br />But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-14.htm">John 13:14-15</a></span><br />So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. / I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/2-7.htm">Philippians 2:7</a></span><br />but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-11.htm">Matthew 23:11</a></span><br />The greatest among you shall be your servant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/9-35.htm">Mark 9:35</a></span><br />Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-5.htm">1 Peter 5:5</a></span><br />Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/9-19.htm">1 Corinthians 9:19</a></span><br />Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-13.htm">Galatians 5:13</a></span><br />For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-10.htm">Romans 12:10</a></span><br />Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-11.htm">Isaiah 53:11</a></span><br />After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm">Isaiah 42:1</a></span><br />“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a></span><br />Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/6-8.htm">Micah 6:8</a></span><br />He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-33.htm">Proverbs 15:33</a></span><br />The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:</p><p class="hdg">whosoever.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/18-4.htm">Matthew 18:4</a></b></br> Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/9-33.htm">Mark 9:33-35</a></b></br> And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/22-26.htm">Luke 22:26</a></b></br> But ye <i>shall</i> not <i>be</i> so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/18-32.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/zechariah/13-5.htm">Bondservant</a> <a href="/matthew/20-18.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Desires</a> <a href="/matthew/20-16.htm">First</a> <a href="/daniel/4-17.htm">Lowest</a> <a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/matthew/18-33.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Wants</a> <a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Wishes</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/24-45.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/mark/10-44.htm">Bondservant</a> <a href="/matthew/21-15.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/matthew/21-18.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/matthew/27-43.htm">Desires</a> <a href="/matthew/21-28.htm">First</a> <a href="/luke/14-9.htm">Lowest</a> <a href="/matthew/20-28.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/matthew/24-45.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/matthew/27-43.htm">Wants</a> <a href="/mark/8-34.htm">Wishes</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Jesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-17.htm">foretells his passion;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-20.htm">by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-29.htm">and gives two blind men their sight.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>and whoever wants to be first among you</b><br>This phrase addresses the desire for prominence and leadership within the community of believers. In the cultural context of the time, positions of authority were highly sought after, often associated with power and prestige. Jesus challenges this notion by redefining what it means to be "first." This teaching is consistent with other passages, such as <a href="/matthew/23-11.htm">Matthew 23:11</a>, where Jesus states, "The greatest among you shall be your servant." The concept of being "first" is not about status but about service and humility, reflecting the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God.<p><b>must be your slave—</b><br>The term "slave" here is translated from the Greek word "doulos," which implies complete devotion and service to others. In the Roman world, a slave had no rights and was entirely subject to the will of their master. Jesus uses this strong imagery to emphasize the level of selflessness and dedication required of His followers. This teaching is a radical departure from the societal norms of the time, where slaves were considered the lowest class. It also foreshadows Jesus' own example, as He came "not to be served, but to serve" (<a href="/matthew/20-28.htm">Matthew 20:28</a>). This call to servitude is a type of Christ, who exemplified ultimate humility and sacrifice.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the nature of true greatness in the Kingdom of God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a></b><br>The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, they are learning about the values of humility and service.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_kingdom_of_heaven.htm">The Kingdom of Heaven</a></b><br>The broader context of Jesus' teaching, where the values differ from worldly standards.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/james_and_john.htm">James and John</a></b><br>Earlier in the chapter, their mother requests positions of honor for them, prompting Jesus' teaching on servanthood.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_gentile_rulers.htm">The Gentile Rulers</a></b><br>Referenced by Jesus as a contrast to the Kingdom values, where rulers often lord over others.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_paradox_of_greatness.htm">The Paradox of Greatness</a></b><br>In God's Kingdom, greatness is measured by one's willingness to serve others, not by status or power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/servanthood_as_leadership.htm">Servanthood as Leadership</a></b><br>True leadership in the Christian context is characterized by humility and service, following the example of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/counter-cultural_values.htm">Counter-Cultural Values</a></b><br>Jesus' teaching challenges societal norms that equate greatness with authority and dominance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/imitating_christ.htm">Imitating Christ</a></b><br>Believers are called to emulate Jesus, who exemplified servanthood through His life and sacrifice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/practical_servanthood.htm">Practical Servanthood</a></b><br>Serving others in everyday life is a tangible expression of living out Kingdom values.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_the_kkk_a_christian_group.htm">Is the KKK considered a Christian group?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_first_saw_jesus_post-resurrection.htm">Who first saw Jesus after the resurrection? (Matthew 28:1-9 vs. John 20:14-16)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_jesus_say,_'why_forsake_me'.htm">If Jesus is God, why did He say, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' on the cross (Matthew 27:46)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_the_sabbath_on_saturday_or_sunday.htm">Is the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) <span class= "bld">Whosoever will be chief.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">first,</span> as continuing the thought of <a href="/matthew/20-16.htm" title="So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.">Matthew 20:16</a>. The "servant" (better, <span class= "ital">slave</span>) implies a lower and more menial service than that of the "minister" of the preceding verse, just as the "chief" or "first" involves a higher position than the "greatness" there spoken of. We introduce a false antithesis if we assign the "service" to this life, and the "greatness" as its reward to the life after death. The true teaching of the words is that the greatness <span class= "ital">is</span> the service.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Whosoever will be</span> (<span class="greek_word">qe/lh""... </span> <span class="greek">εϊναι</span>) <span class="cmt_word">chief</span> (<span class="accented">first</span>, <span class="greek">πρῶτος</span>)... <span class="cmt_word">servant</span> (<span class="accented">bondservant</span>, <span class="greek">δοῦλος</span>). The characteristic of the Christian ruler should be humility. Christ enforces the teaching of the previous verse more emphatically by altering the terms in which it was stated. "Great" now becomes "first;" "minister," "slave." Of these two last words the former would imply rather occasional service, to meet some temporary call; the latter, the regular business of a slave bound to his master at all times. We do not gather from this passage that the Christian minister, called by God, is to take his doctrine from his congregation, or to be directed by them in his labours; but he is to devote time, talents, faculties, to the good of his flock, to spend and be spent in their service, to let no private interests or pursuits interfere with his manifold duties to those whom he oversees. The same sentiment is found in <a href="/matthew/23-11.htm">Matthew 23:11</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/20-27.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">whoever</span><br /><span class="grk">ὃς</span> <span class="translit">(hos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">wants</span><br /><span class="grk">θέλῃ</span> <span class="translit">(thelē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2309.htm">Strong's 2309: </a> </span><span class="str2">To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">to be</span><br /><span class="grk">εἶναι</span> <span class="translit">(einai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">first</span><br /><span class="grk">πρῶτος</span> <span class="translit">(prōtos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4413.htm">Strong's 4413: </a> </span><span class="str2">First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐν</span> <span class="translit">(en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> </span><span class="str2">In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμῖν</span> <span class="translit">(hymin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">must be</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔσται</span> <span class="translit">(estai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμῶν</span> <span class="translit">(hymōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">slave—</span><br /><span class="grk">δοῦλος</span> <span class="translit">(doulos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/20-27.htm">Matthew 20:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/20-27.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 20:27 Whoever desires to be first among you (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/20-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 20:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 20:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/20-28.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 20:28"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 20:28" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>