Devine Scripture

Matthew 20:27

What does Matthew 20:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 20:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 20:27 means

Building on the previous verse, Jesus intensifies His teaching on humble leadership: "whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant." The word "servant" (Greek: *doulos*) implies even greater submission and dedication than "minister" (*diakonos*). This reiterates that the highest place in the kingdom is attained through the lowest position of service, challenging the disciples' desires for prestige and power with a call to radical humility.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him take the lowest place:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he that will be first among you shall be your servant.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and whosoever will be first among you, let him be your bondman;

Context

This verse reinforces and amplifies Jesus' teaching from the previous verse, driving home the concept of radical humility for kingdom leadership. It directly connects the desire to be "first" with the call to be a "servant," cementing the profound reversal of worldly values. This principle then culminates in Jesus' ultimate example of servant leadership in the next verse.

v.26Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;

v.27This passage

v.28even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:19

    For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:5

    For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

  • Mark 9:33

    And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way?

  • Matthew 18:4

    Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

  • Romans 1:14

    I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

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