20:20-28 What do we learn from this?

20:20-28 What do we learn from this? 20:20-28 What do we learn from this?

When the other disciples knew what James and John asked Jesus they were resentful, moved with indignation, because they all coveted exalted positions in the kingdom themselves (cp Mt 18:1; Mk 9:33-35; Lk 9:46; 22:24-26).

In Mt 20:25-28 Jesus explained that in the world the greatest are those who wield the most power, but in God’s kingdom the greatest are the servants of all, like Jesus Himself (cp also Mk 10:41-45). Jesus even forbids His followers seeking after and receiving titles for themselves, or referring to each other by title (cp Mt 23:8-12).

Christ condemns the use of titles in the church because He does not want His followers to be like the religious leaders in His day. We learn in V12 here that no Christian has precedence over another in God’s order. (See also comments on Mt 18:3, 18:6, 19:30, 20:16,23:8-12

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