KJV - Luke 22:24-27 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (25) And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. (26) 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. (27) 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.
NIV - Luke 22:24-27 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. (25) Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. (26) But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. (27) For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
In most aspects of our lives we strive or at least desire to be Great. We want to have a great marriage. We want to have great kids. We want to have a great job or career and the list could go on almost indefinitely.
“Greatness” is defined as: “being such in an extreme or notable degree”. Notice the word “degree”. The word “Degree” implies scale of intensity. Therefore “Greatness” is a comparison of ‘scales of intensity’ between two or more things. The problem with the concept of “greatness” is what “scale” is being used? There is an old saying: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. That is a truism that applies to greatness too. “Greatness is in the eye of the beholder”....or better said, what is the standard of greatness?
As we se in our text today, whenever humans get together, comparisons begin to take place. There are competitions between some woman about who is prettier. There are comparisons in family gatherings about who is the favorite. There are comparisons about who is smarter, etc. There were even comparisons among the apostles. The apostles were having a dispute among themselves about who was the greatest. But again, what is the standard of comparison? They were comparing themselves to each other based upon worldly standards. One might have argued that he was greater because he had a better family tree. We do not know the specifics but they too were bound by human frailties.
After hearing enough, Jesus finally interjects His perfect view into the conversation. Jesus is not concerned about the scales of greatness from an earthly point of view. Instead he wants to inform his apostles, and us, as to the only standard with which God is concerned. While the world measures greatness by money, power, influence, intelligence and the like, God measures greatness in terms of SERVITUDE! That is the exact opposite of world. But really isn’t most things.
Having the attitude of being a servant is so foreign to the American psyche. We pride ourselves on being independent and being free. But if we want to be great, we must learn to be like Jesus. We must therefore learn how to submit and serve as he did!
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus was the epitome of servitude. And if Jesus can do it, then so can we! Some might think that Jesus was so different that it is not fair to compare. But one thing that we have to keep in mind is that the sacrifices that Jesus made is infinitely greater than anything that we are asked to make. We just need to put our own wants, wishes, and desires aside to be what God wants us to be.
Be great! But be great by God’s standards. Be a servant to both God and others!
Reflecting His SON,
Dennis Hogan
Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ
1804 Sam Steward Dr.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward
their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.
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