Luke 22:24 kjv
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Luke 22:24 nkjv
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
Luke 22:24 niv
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
Luke 22:24 esv
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
Luke 22:24 nlt
Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
Luke 22 24 Cross References
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 9:46 | "And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest." | Earlier instance of disciples' ambition. |
| Mk 9:33-35 | "...On the way...disputed among yourselves? He sat down and said to them, 'If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'" | Parallel account; Jesus teaches servanthood. |
| Matt 18:1-4 | "...who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'...become as little children." | Parallel account; Jesus links humility to greatness. |
| Matt 20:20-28 | "...grant that these two sons...may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your kingdom...whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant." | Ambitious request from Zebedee's sons; Jesus clarifies leadership. |
| Mk 10:35-45 | "...to sit one on Your right and one on Your left in Your glory...but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." | Parallel to Matthew 20; leadership is service. |
| Jn 13:1-17 | Jesus washing the disciples' feet. "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." | Practical demonstration of servant leadership. |
| Lk 22:25-27 | "...The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them...But not so among you; rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." | Jesus' immediate response and teaching in Luke 22. |
| Matt 23:8-12 | "...one is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren...He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Warning against seeking titles/honor; emphasis on humility. |
| Phil 2:3-8 | "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition...let each esteem others better than himself...Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who...made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant..." | Exhortation to humility, Christ's example. |
| Rom 12:10 | "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." | Promoting mutual honor over self-exaltation. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility; for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" | Humility commanded; God opposes the proud. |
| Jas 4:6 | "...'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'" | Direct quote emphasizing God's opposition to pride. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are evident...hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions..." | Selfish ambition listed as a work of the flesh. |
| 2 Cor 12:20 | "For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish...lest there be contentions, envies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults..." | Paul warns against internal strife and selfish ambition in the church. |
| 1 Cor 3:3 | "...For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?" | Divisions rooted in carnality, not spiritual maturity. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Wisdom literature warning against pride. |
| Isa 53:10-12 | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant's humility and exaltation. | Jesus fulfills prophecy of humbling Himself before exaltation. |
| Phil 1:15-17 | "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill...The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains." | Selfish ambition in ministry; contrasts with genuine motive. |
| 3 Jn 9 | "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us." | Example of one who loved preeminence, refusing apostolic authority. |
| Rom 15:1-3 | "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself..." | Christ's example of self-denial and serving others. |
| Jn 18:36 | "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight..." | Clarifies the spiritual, non-worldly nature of Jesus' kingdom. |
| Mk 8:31-33 | Jesus predicts his suffering, Peter rebukes Him, Jesus calls Peter Satan. | Disciples struggle with the concept of a suffering Messiah; desire for glory, not humility. |
Luke 22 verses
Luke 22 24 Meaning
Luke 22:24 describes an ironic and disheartening scene immediately following Jesus' institution of the Lord's Supper and his solemn prophecy of betrayal and Peter's denial. The disciples engaged in a dispute over their personal status and superiority, arguing about "which of them should be accounted the greatest." This contentious moment reveals their deep-seated human ambition, a persistent misunderstanding of the spiritual nature of God's kingdom, and their slowness to grasp Jesus' teachings on humble servant leadership, even at such a pivotal and sacred time. Their focus on worldly prominence sharply contrasted with Jesus' impending self-sacrifice and servant-hearted example.
Luke 22 24 Context
Luke 22:24 is set in the very immediate aftermath of pivotal events in Jesus' ministry: the Passover meal which Jesus transformed into the Last Supper (the institution of the New Covenant through His body and blood), His prediction of His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's impending denial. This deep spiritual exchange and sacred establishment of the Eucharist make the disciples' argument for worldly superiority appear remarkably ill-timed and spiritually obtuse.
Historically and culturally, the Jewish society of that time highly valued honor, status, and prominent positions, particularly within religious and leadership circles (e.g., Pharisees seeking chief seats in synagogues, Matt 23:6). The disciples, though committed to Jesus, were still largely influenced by these worldly paradigms, expecting an earthly kingdom where they would hold positions of authority beside a conquering Messiah. This lingering misconception about the Messiah's role and the nature of His kingdom (which Jesus later clarifies in verses 25-27 as spiritual and based on service, not power like Gentile rulers) underscores their constant struggle to grasp Jesus' teachings on humility, sacrifice, and true greatness.
Luke 22 24 Word analysis
- And there was also (
Ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ, Egeneto de kai):Egeneto(ἐγένετο) means "it came to pass" or "it happened," a common Lucan connective highlighting a new event.de kai(δὲ καὶ) acts as "and also," emphasizing that this argument, shockingly, also took place, intruding into such a sacred and profound setting, marking a significant and unwelcome development.
- a strife (
φιλονεικία, philoneikia):- Comes from
philos(loving, friendly) andneikos(quarrel, strife). It signifies "love of contention," "eagerness to dispute," or "ambitious rivalry." It's more than a mere disagreement; it's a deep-seated desire to assert superiority, an argument rooted in competition for position and prestige. - This Greek term points to an unhealthy competitiveness, reflecting pride and a worldly mindset rather than spiritual maturity.
- Comes from
- among them (
ἐν αὐτοῖς, en autois):- Refers specifically to the twelve apostles, the inner circle of Jesus' followers. The conflict was internal to the core group, highlighting the challenge even among those closest to the Lord.
- which of them (
τὸ τίς αὐτῶν, to tis auton):- Literally, "the who of them," directly indicating the subject of their contentious dispute – a question of individual precedence and ranking.
- should be accounted (
δοκεῖ εἶναι, dokei einai):Dokei(δοκεῖ) means "it seems," "it is thought," or "is regarded." It suggests a matter of perception, reputation, and public recognition, implying that their concern was how others, and possibly even Jesus, would view their status.
- the greatest (
μείζων, meizōn):- The comparative form of
megas(great). It refers to superiority in rank, status, importance, or authority. This ambition reflected a desire for power and prominence within the expected kingdom, revealing their spiritual blindness to Jesus' counter-cultural teaching of humility and service as the true mark of greatness.
- The comparative form of
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And there was also a strife among them": This phrase underlines the unexpected and unwelcome nature of the dispute. The inclusion of "also" is critical, indicating that this contentious human weakness appeared even after the institution of the sacred communion, showing their spiritual unpreparedness. It points to internal friction, highlighting the disciples' shared human flaw rather than any external provocation.
- "which of them should be accounted the greatest": This explicitly defines the core issue: self-exaltation and ambition for hierarchical status. It showcases their deep misunderstanding of the kingdom of God, which Jesus teaches is founded on service, not worldly rank. Their preoccupation with their own positions stands in stark contrast to Jesus's focus on His imminent suffering and the needs of humanity.
Luke 22 24 Bonus section
This particular instance in Luke 22 is highly significant because it immediately precedes Jesus' teaching on humble leadership (Luke 22:25-27), thereby emphasizing the direct contrast between human ambition and Christ's standard for His followers. The recurring nature of this ambition among the disciples throughout the Gospels (Mk 9:33-35, Matt 20:20-28) highlights that overcoming pride and seeking genuine humility is a lifelong process, even for the most devoted followers. The dispute underscores the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, which was yet to fully empower them to truly embody the servant leadership Christ taught, leading to a profound change in their attitudes and actions in the book of Acts.
Luke 22 24 Commentary
Luke 22:24 provides a powerful, albeit somber, insight into the persistent struggle between human ambition and divine humility. That this dispute over "greatness" occurred immediately after the solemn institution of the Lord's Supper is a striking display of the disciples' spiritual immaturity and their slow comprehension of the kingdom's true nature. Despite years of Jesus' teaching and demonstrations of servant leadership, their minds remained fixed on worldly power structures and personal prominence. This serves as a timeless reminder that even those closest to divine truth can harbor carnal desires, and that true greatness in God's eyes is fundamentally different from worldly status—it is found in selfless service, as Jesus would immediately explain and embody. It cautions against competitive spirit and striving for self-exaltation within the community of faith, urging a shift from seeking to be served to becoming a servant of all.