But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Parallel translations
- WEB But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
- NASB But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
- NLT But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
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
Jesus tells His disciples not to imitate worldly rulers, but to let the greater become like the younger and the leader like a servant. He redefines greatness as humble service.
Overview
In the Kingdom, status is inverted: leadership means serving, and seniority means lowliness. Jesus calls His followers to reject the domineering ways of the world. This teaching flows from His own example and forms the heart of Christian leadership in the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
- Mark 9:35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
- 1 Pet 5:3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
- Matt 18:3–5And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- 3 Jn 1:9–10I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
- Matt 23:8–12But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
- Luke 9:48And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
- Rom 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 22:26 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.