The Chief Among You Servant - Matthew 20:27

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-seven of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus challenged His disciples with the idea concerning, “whosoever will be chief among you” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “And whosoever will be chief among you, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and whosoever” or “and whatever person whether male or female” “will be chief” which means “desires to be the first in rank, influence and honor” “among you” or “with Jesus' disciples”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the person who desires to be “first in rank and influence” among His disciples.

The verse continues, “... let him be your servant:” Matthew added the words, “let him” or “allow and permit that person to” “be your servant” which means “exist as the disciples' minister, waiter, slave and attendant”. Matthew wrote how Jesus told His disciples the one who desires to be “first in rank and influence” among them would be their “minister and attendant”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see another example of the way Jesus' Kingdom is different than the world's. Those who are “chief” in God's Kingdom “serve” others, and rather than seeking a position of “authority and power”, they “serve” other people. God sent His Son Jesus to “serve” mankind by dying upon the cross for their sins, and thereby He has provided a way for people to have a loving relationship with God. All those who follow His example shall learn to “minister to” one another and become “great and chief” in God's Kingdom.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus said, “even as the Son of man came … to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.