Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 20:26

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

KJV

οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν· ἀλλ’ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν μέγας γενέσθαι ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος,

Greek NT

Non ita erit inter vos : sed quicumque voluerit inter vos major fieri, sit vester minister :

Vulgate

Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;

ASV

It shall not be so among you: but whosoever is the greater among you, let him be your minister.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

12 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

γίνομαι
ginomai
verb · 667×
διάκονος
diakonos
noun · 30×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θέλω
thelo
verb · 208×
μέγας
megas
adjective · 244×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
οὕτω
outo
adverb · 208×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἐάν
ean
conditional · 333×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ὅς
os
relative_pronoun · 1404×
ὑμεῖς
umeis
pronoun · 1828×

Textual variants

2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

notable
SBLGNT: ἔσται | NIV: ἔσται | RP: δέ ἔσται | WH/Treg: ἐστὶν
  • ἔσται — SBLGNT
  • ἔσται — Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • δέ ἔσται — Robinson-Pierpont
  • ἐστὶν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: ἂν | WH/Treg: ἂν | NIV/RP: ἐὰν
  • ἂν — SBLGNT
  • ἂν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles
  • ἐὰν — Reader's GNT (NA27), Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2235Those who exercise authority should do so as a service. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant."41 The exercise of authority is measured morally in terms of its divine origin, its reasonable nature and its specific object. No one can command or establish what is contrary to the dignity of persons and the natural law.
2. But what is the meaning of, not to be wise above what is written? It is written, Matthew 7:3 Why do you behold the mote that is in your brothers's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in your own eye? and Judge not, that you be not judged. For if we are one and are mutually bound together, it behooves us not to rise up against one another. For he that humbles himself sh…
2. And God has set some in the Church: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, various kinds of tongues. Thus what I spoke of before, this also he now does. Because they thought highly of themselves in respect of the tongues he sets it last every where. For the terms, first and secondly, are not used by him…
1. Great indeed was the faith of Abraham. For while in the case of Abel, and of Noah, and of Enoch, there was an opposition of reasonings only, and it was necessary to go beyond human reasonings; in this case it was necessary not only to go beyond human reasonings, but to manifest also something more. For what was of God seemed to be opposed to what was of God; and faith oppose…
The spiritual power, so called, has no foundation for its pomp in the teaching of Christ. The temporal power is confirmed by the teaching and action of Christ. All that the spiritual so-called state claims to have of power and protection belongs to the temporal, if they wish to be Christians.

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 9:19 — For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
  • 1Pet 4:11 — If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be p
  • 1Pet 5:3 — Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
  • 3John 1:9 — I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
  • John 13:14 — If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
  • Luke 14:7 — And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
  • Luke 18:14 — I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
  • Mark 9:35 — 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.
  • Mark 10:43 — But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
  • Mark 10:43 — But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
  • Mark 10:45 — For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
  • Matt 18:4 — Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Matt 23:8 — But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
  • Matt 23:11 — But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
  • Matt 25:44 — Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
  • Phil 2:5 — Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
  • Rom 12:10 — Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;