Luke 22:27

For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to His disciples during the Last Supper, immediately after instructing them that leaders must act like the youngest. The dialogue occurs in the upper room on the night of His impending betrayal.

The words — The Greek μεῖζων (meizōn) literally means "greater," while διακονῶν (diakonōn) means "serving." The text contrasts the reclining guest with the active server to invert contemporary cultural hierarchies.

The thread — This pattern appears in Matthew 20:28, where Jesus declares He came to serve, and in John 13:5, where He washes the disciples' feet. Luke 12:37 further links divine blessing to attentive service.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to replace status-seeking with concrete service. It demands that leadership be measured by active labor rather than positional privilege.

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

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Cross-references

Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.
John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Luke 17:7 Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.