Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
Parallel translations
- WEB There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.
- KJV Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
- NKJV Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.
- NASB Now an argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.
- NLT Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was 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
An argument arises among the disciples about who is the greatest. Their pride stands in sharp contrast to Jesus' teaching on the cross.
Overview
Just after Jesus speaks of His humiliation and death, the disciples dispute over rank. The juxtaposition exposes how far their thinking is from His. It reveals the persistent human craving for status that Jesus must continually confront and overturn.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 18:1–5At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
- Matt 20:20–22Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
- Mark 9:33–37Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
- 3 Jn 1:9I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
- Phil 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Matt 23:6–7They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,
- Phil 2:14Do everything without complaining or arguing,
- Gal 5:25–26Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
- Luke 22:24–27A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.
- Luke 14:7–11When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
- Gal 5:20–21idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
- Rom 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Rom 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
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 9:46 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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