Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
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.
- BSB A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered 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.
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 9:46There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.
- Mark 9:34But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
- Matt 20:20–24Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
- Mark 10:37–41They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.”
- Rom 12:10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
- 1 Pet 5:5–6Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Cor 13:4Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
- Phil 2:3–5doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- Jas 4:5–6Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
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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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