Who Is the Greatest?

33 ⁿAnd they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ^o“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 ^p“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Who Is the Greatest?

1 ^yAt that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the ^zgreatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like ^achildren, you will never ^benter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever ^chumbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 ^d“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

Who Is the Greatest?

46 ^aAn argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, ^b“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For ^che who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

The Request of James and John

35 ^cAnd James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to ^dsit, ^eone at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the ^fcup that I drink, or to be baptized with the ^gbaptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. ^hBut whoever would be great among you must be your servant,¹ 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave² of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to ⁱserve, and to give his life as a ^jransom for many.”