Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He 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.”
- KJV And 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.
- NKJV And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
- NASB And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
- NLT He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
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 teaches that the one who wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. True greatness in God's kingdom is measured by lowly service.
Overview
Sitting down as a teacher, Jesus formally instructs the Twelve, overturning worldly hierarchies. Greatness is not seized through status but expressed through serving others. This principle is grounded in Jesus himself, who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom (10:45).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 20:25–28But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
- Luke 22:26But 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.
- Mark 10:42–45So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
- Luke 14:10–11But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.
- Matt 23:11The greatest among you shall be your servant.
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Jas 4:6But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Jer 45:5But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”
- Prov 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 9:35 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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