Bible Strands
Luke 22:26
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples during the Last Supper, immediately contrasting their expected conduct with the domineering practices of Gentile rulers. He speaks to them in the upper room as he prepares to depart.
The words — The text highlights ὁ μείζων (ho meizōn), meaning "the greater," and contrasts it with servanthood. Jesus uses ὑμεῖς (humeis), "you," to directly mark the disciples as the recipients of this inverted hierarchy.
The thread — This theme of inverted leadership appears in Mark 9:35, where Jesus commands that the first must be the last and servant of all. It also echoes in 1 Peter 5:3, which forbids lording it over others and commands being examples to the flock.
Why it lands — The text demands that authority be expressed through service rather than dominance. A reader must abandon worldly models of status and adopt the posture of the youngest and the server.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Mark 9:35 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.”
- 1 Peter 5:3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 23:8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
- Luke 9:48 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”
- 3 John 1:9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
- Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.