Luke 9:46 Meaning and Explanation
“Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →An argument arises among the disciples over which of them is greatest.
What Does Luke 9:46 Mean?
The Lord has just spoken of being handed over to death; the disciples respond by debating rank. A reasoning arises among them, which of them should be greatest. The collision of the two conversations, his cross and their standing, is one of the most painful contrasts in the Gospel.
Ambition is the most respectable of sins and the most persistent, surviving even daily company with Jesus. The dispute grows precisely where understanding of the cross has failed; whenever the self-giving of Christ grows dim, self-advancement fills the space. Before judging the Twelve, the reader does well to ask where the same quiet contest runs in his own heart, and to let the next verses answer it.
Luke 9:46 in the Original Language
dialogismos (διαλογισμός), 'reasoning' -- an inner debate; a disputing thought.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 9:46
What does Luke 9:46 mean?
An argument arises among the disciples over which of them is greatest.