Matthew 20:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus adds that whoever wants to be first among them must become the servant of all.
What Does Matthew 20:27 Mean?
Jesus presses the teaching further still. Whoever would be chief, the very first, must become your servant, a word stronger than the last, carrying the sense of a bondservant who belongs wholly to others. The higher the aspiration, the lower the place to which it must descend. To be first is to take the role of the one who serves all.
This is the great inversion of the kingdom of heaven. The world climbs over others to reach the top; Christ's followers stoop beneath others to lift them. Such a path is not natural to the human heart, yet it is the only true greatness Jesus recognizes. The one who would lead in His kingdom must first learn to kneel, to spend himself for the good of those around him, seeking not a throne but a towel.
Matthew 20:27 in the Original Language
doulos (δοῦλος), 'servant' -- a bondservant, one wholly given over to serve another.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 20:27
What does Matthew 20:27 mean?
Jesus adds that whoever wants to be first among them must become the servant of all.