Luke 9:46 kjv
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
Luke 9:46 nkjv
Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.
Luke 9:46 niv
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
Luke 9:46 esv
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
Luke 9:46 nlt
Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest.
Luke 9 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 9:33-35 | "He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'" | Parallel passage, Jesus defines true greatness. |
| Mt 18:1-4 | "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ... whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." | Similar dispute, teaching on child-like humility. |
| Mt 20:20-28 | The mother of James and John requests places of honor, leading Jesus to teach that "whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant." | Similar desire for status, corrected by Jesus. |
| Lk 22:24-27 | "A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as greatest... 'the one who serves is the greater.'" | Another dispute over greatness, Last Supper. |
| Phil 2:3-8 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves... Christ Jesus, who... emptied Himself." | Exhortation to humility, Christ's example. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble... Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God." | God exalts the humble. |
| Jas 4:6 | "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." | Divine opposition to pride. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Warning against pride. |
| Lk 14:7-11 | Jesus observes guests choosing the places of honor and teaches, "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Teaching on humility at feasts. |
| Is 57:15 | "For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, 'I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit.'" | God's preference for humility. |
| Prov 29:23 | "A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor." | Humility leads to honor. |
| Mt 23:11-12 | "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." | Warning against hypocrisy, call to service. |
| Lk 18:17 | "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter into it at all." | Child-like humility for kingdom entry. |
| Mk 10:43-45 | "whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant... For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." | Christ's example of servant leadership. |
| Jn 13:12-16 | Jesus washes disciples' feet, teaching, "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." | Practical example of humble service. |
| 1 Cor 13:4-5 | "Love does not brag and is not puffed up... does not seek its own." | True love counteracts self-seeking ambition. |
| Rom 12:3 | "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment." | Warning against inflated self-assessment. |
| Lk 9:43b-45 | "while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 'Let these words sink into your ears: For the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.' But they did not understand..." | Immediate context, disciples' spiritual blindness to suffering. |
| Mk 4:24 | "Be careful what you hear; by your standard of measure it will be measured to you." | Connects hearing (lack of understanding) to conduct. |
| Col 3:12 | "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." | Virtues that oppose selfish ambition. |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 46 Meaning
Luke 9:46 reveals a poignant contrast between Jesus's divine mission and the worldly aspirations of His disciples. Immediately following Jesus's solemn prophecy of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, the disciples engaged in a dispute among themselves about who among them was the greatest. This verse underscores the human tendency towards self-promotion and hierarchy, even within the closest circle of followers, and highlights their struggle to grasp the true nature of God's Kingdom, which is characterized by humility and service, not status.
Luke 9 46 Context
Luke 9:46 occurs at a pivotal point in Jesus's ministry. Immediately prior to this verse (Lk 9:43b-45), Jesus had once again soberly prophesied His impending betrayal, suffering, and death, stating, "Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." This was a shocking and unsettling pronouncement that the disciples either could not or would not comprehend, remaining "ignorant" and "afraid to ask."
However, just before this grim prophecy, Luke records a powerful demonstration of Jesus's divine authority: His glorious transfiguration (Lk 9:28-36) and the dramatic healing of a demon-possessed boy (Lk 9:37-43a), an event that left the crowds "amazed at the greatness of God."
Against this backdrop of astonishing divine power and sobering messianic prophecy, the disciples' internal "discussion" about who was the greatest starkly reveals their human limitations. They were clearly fixated on a worldly concept of the Messiah's kingdom, envisioning positions of power and honor within an earthly regime rather than grappling with Jesus's teaching on suffering servanthood. Their preoccupation with status betrayed a fundamental misunderstanding of Jesus's mission and the nature of true greatness in God's eyes, illustrating a spiritual immaturity despite their proximity to the Lord.
Luke 9 46 Word analysis
- Then (de): A conjunction indicating sequence, transition, or contrast. It subtly links the disciples' immediate response to Jesus's profound, yet incomprehensible, teaching about His suffering and glorification (Lk 9:43b-45) with their carnal preoccupation with status.
- a discussion (dialogismos, διαλογισμός): This Greek term denotes "reasoning," "deliberation," or "disputation." While it can mean an innocent thought, in the New Testament, especially when coupled with ambition or negative contexts (as it often is, e.g., Rom 1:21; Phil 2:14; 1 Tim 2:8), it frequently implies contentious internal debates or harmful cogitations. Here, it suggests an argument or dispute arising from their human thoughts.
- arose (eiselthe, εἰσῆλθεν): Literally "entered into." It signifies that the discussion came into being among them or entered their minds. It highlights the internal, perhaps spontaneous, emergence of this debate within the group, rather than being outwardly declared to Jesus first.
- among them (en autois): Emphasizes that this was an internal squabble within the intimate circle of disciples, those chosen by Jesus to carry forward His message. It shows a fundamental challenge within the nascent community.
- as to which (tis ara, τίς ἄρα): This interrogative phrase seeks to identify or ascertain. It introduces the subject of their dispute, signifying a competition or a contest of relative standing.
- of them (auton, αὐτῶν): Directly refers to the disciples themselves, the very individuals called to follow Jesus in humility and self-denial.
- might be (eie, εἴη): The optative mood of the verb "to be" conveys potentiality or possibility, suggesting a hypothetical future position or a question about who currently ranked highest in perceived status or authority. It’s a competitive assessment.
- the greatest (meizon, μείζων): The comparative form of megas ("great"), here used in a superlative sense (among more than two) – "the greatest one." In a society highly structured by honor and status, this term signifies supreme authority, prominence, and power. The disciples sought a position of preeminence, revealing a mindset rooted in worldly hierarchies rather than the kingdom's inverted values.
Luke 9 46 Bonus section
The repeated motif of the disciples' spiritual dullness regarding Jesus's suffering is crucial. Luke 9:43b-45 explicitly states they did not understand what Jesus meant and were "afraid to ask Him about this statement." Their subsequent immediate descent into a debate about who was greatest highlights their profound inability or unwillingness to grasp the counter-intuitive nature of the cross and true kingdom values. This intellectual and spiritual blind spot underscores the radical difference between their prevailing Jewish cultural expectations of a conquering Messiah-King and Jesus's vision of a suffering servant. The passage implicitly critiques the prevailing Jewish hierarchical system and honor culture by presenting a radical alternative. This is a common theme in the Synoptics, suggesting the disciples consistently wrestled with these issues, perhaps finding it particularly difficult to shed the deeply ingrained cultural mindset of seeking prestige and positions of power.
Luke 9 46 Commentary
Luke 9:46 offers a stark, ironic portrayal of the disciples' spiritual disconnect. Having just witnessed Jesus's incredible power in the transfiguration and healing the demon-possessed boy, and having just heard Jesus's dire prophecy of His suffering, their minds were not on comprehending the cross or imitating His selfless sacrifice. Instead, their preoccupation was rooted in self-interest and earthly ambition: who among them would hold the highest rank in the perceived earthly kingdom. This "discussion" (a quarrel or inward rumination) exposed their deep-seated desire for personal glory, demonstrating their ongoing struggle to understand the core principles of Jesus's kingdom—a kingdom founded not on human power structures, but on radical humility and servant leadership.
Jesus's response to their unspoken question (in the following verses, Lk 9:47-48) directly confronts their pride. By taking a little child and placing him in their midst, Jesus illustrated that true greatness in His Kingdom is found in the lowliest, the most vulnerable, and the one who is least, not in power or status. Receiving such a child in Jesus's name is akin to receiving Jesus Himself, and thereby the Father. This passage serves as a perennial warning against spiritual pride, worldly competition within the Church, and the ever-present temptation to seek honor for oneself rather than serving others humbly for Christ's glory.
Examples:
- A leader prioritizing personal recognition over selfless service.
- Believers engaging in rivalry for positions or influence within a community.
- Ministers focusing on the size of their ministry or platform rather than the needs of the least.