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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
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, 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.”
- Mark 9:35He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
- 1 Pet 5:3neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
- Matt 18:3–5and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- 3 Jn 1:9–10I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
- Matt 23:8–12But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
- Luke 9:48and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”
- Rom 12:2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.