A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.
Parallel translations
- WEB There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
- KJV And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
- NKJV Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
- NASB And a dispute also developed among them as to which one of them was regarded as being the greatest.
- NLT Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A dispute arises among the apostles over which of them is the greatest. It reveals how persistent pride remains even at the holiest moments.
Overview
Strikingly, on the night of Jesus' betrayal the disciples argue about status and rank. Their rivalry exposes the lingering grip of pride in hearts still being shaped by grace. The contrast with Jesus' self-giving love sets up His teaching that true greatness in the Kingdom is found in humble service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Luke 9:46Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
- Mark 9:34But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
- Matt 20:20–24Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
- Mark 10:37–41They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”
- Rom 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- 1 Pet 5:5–6Young 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.”
- 1 Cor 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Phil 2:3–5Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Jas 4:5–6Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 22:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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