Matthew 23:11 kjv
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11 nkjv
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11 niv
The greatest among you will be your servant.
Matthew 23:11 esv
The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11 nlt
The greatest among you must be a servant.
Matthew 23 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 20:26-28 | "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." | True greatness is found in service and humility |
| Mk 9:35 | "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." | Leadership redefined as ultimate service |
| Lk 22:26-27 | "...The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." | Inversion of traditional leadership roles |
| Jn 13:13-17 | Jesus washes His disciples' feet, setting an example of humble service | Christ's personal example of serving |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Christ Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage... made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant | The supreme example of humility and servanthood by Christ |
| Lk 14:11 | "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | God's principle of humility and exaltation |
| Lk 18:14 | "...everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Reiteration of God's reversal of status |
| Jas 4:10 | "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." | Divine exaltation follows human humility |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." | Patience in humble service rewarded by God |
| Gal 5:13 | "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free; but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." | Love manifests in humble service to others |
| Eph 6:6-7 | "...serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people..." | Motivation for service is to God |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others..." | Service is connected to spiritual gifting |
| Isa 42:1-4 | Prophecy of the Lord's Servant (Messiah) who brings justice gently and serves humbly | OT prophetic foundation for servant-leadership |
| Zec 3:8 | "Behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch." | Another OT reference to the servant Messiah |
| 1 Cor 9:19 | "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." | Apostolic embrace of servant principle |
| 2 Cor 4:5 | "For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." | Apostles' understanding of their role as servants |
| Rom 12:3 | "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment..." | Call for humility in self-assessment |
| Ps 25:9 | "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." | God reveals truth to the humble |
| Prov 11:2 | "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." | Humility and wisdom contrasted with pride |
| Prov 29:23 | "A man’s pride brings him low, but a humble spirit gains honor." | Humility leads to honor, pride to downfall |
| Lk 10:16 | "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me..." | Humility required in receiving Christ's servants |
Matthew 23 verses
Matthew 23 11 Meaning
Matthew 23:11 asserts a foundational principle of the Kingdom of God: true greatness is not achieved through titles, authority, or worldly power, but through humble, sacrificial service to others. This teaching directly challenges human instincts for superiority and the prevalent social norms of the time. It implies an inverted hierarchy where the most esteemed position is that of a servant.
Matthew 23 11 Context
Matthew chapter 23 immediately precedes this verse, featuring Jesus's strong and comprehensive condemnation of the religious leaders—the scribes and Pharisees. He exposes their hypocrisy (Mt 23:1-7) for seeking prominent positions, honorable titles (like 'Rabbi,' 'Father,' 'Master'), and public admiration, all while burdening the people with strict rules they themselves would not keep. This denunciation culminates in a direct instruction to His disciples (Mt 23:8-10) not to seek such titles or recognition. Therefore, Matthew 23:11 serves as a pivotal counter-principle and the foundational ethic for true leadership and greatness within the community of Christ's followers. It marks a dramatic inversion of societal and religious norms of status and power, transitioning from criticism of the unrighteous to instruction for His own.
Matthew 23 11 Word analysis
- But (ὁ δέ, ho de): A strong adversative conjunction that signals a sharp contrast or turning point. Here, it shifts from the condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees' prideful practices to Jesus's definitive teaching on authentic leadership and greatness. It marks a foundational principle of the Kingdom, antithetical to the world's values.
- he who is greatest (ὁ μείζων, ho meizon): The comparative form of megas (great). It refers to one who holds the highest position, significance, or esteem. This is precisely the kind of status and honor the scribes and Pharisees craved. Jesus directly addresses the aspiration for greatness, but then redefines its path.
- among you (ὑμῶν, hymōn): This dative plural pronoun specifies the target audience – Jesus’ disciples and by extension, the community of believers. This principle applies specifically within the spiritual fellowship, contrasting with external, worldly societal structures.
- shall be (ἔσται, estai): A simple future tense of eimi (to be). This is not a suggestion or a temporary condition but a declarative statement about what will be and must be true within the Kingdom's values. It reflects a divine decree about the character of those whom God esteems.
- your servant (ὑμῶν διάκονος, hymōn diakonos):
- your (ὑμῶν, hymōn): Again, emphasizing that this service is directed to the members of the community, not just a general benevolence.
- servant (διάκονος, diakonos): This Greek term literally means "one who serves" or "a waiter at tables." It conveys active, humble service, ministering to the practical needs of others, often implying low social status or even manual labor. It is distinct from doulos (slave, bondservant, emphasizing ownership) or therapon (attendant). The choice of diakonos here underscores service in its most practical, often unnoticed, and self-effacing forms. It challenges the conventional view of leaders being served. This is the root word from which "deacon" derives in the church, pointing to an office of service rather than authority. The emphasis is on active engagement in meeting needs rather than holding a position.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "But he who is greatest among you": This phrase establishes a direct contrast to the preceding discussion of false authority and prideful pursuit of status (Mt 23:5-10). Jesus acknowledges the natural human desire for significance, but redirects the pathway to it. It anticipates a divine reversal of conventional social hierarchies.
- "shall be your servant": This climactic declaration embodies the radical nature of Jesus's Kingdom ethics. It's an overturning of the world's wisdom, where those who are great command service, Jesus proclaims that true greatness is defined by rendering it. This statement fundamentally redefines power, authority, and influence through the lens of humility and loving service.
Matthew 23 11 Bonus section
The principle of the servant-leader articulated in Matthew 23:11 is deeply ingrained throughout Jesus’s ministry and the broader New Testament, particularly in His own life and teachings. He didn't just teach service; He lived it supremely (Phil 2:5-8). The passage from Matthew is not an isolated teaching but part of a consistent theme in the Synoptic Gospels, highlighting Jesus’s commitment to radical humility as the cornerstone of authentic discipleship and spiritual authority. The world defines leadership by the number of people one commands; God defines it by the number of people one serves. This "upside-down Kingdom" model profoundly challenged both the Roman hierarchical system and the entrenched Jewish religious establishment of Jesus's day, proposing a revolutionary social order based on selfless love rather than coercive power or inherited status. It requires an active emptying of self-ambition to genuinely uplift others.
Matthew 23 11 Commentary
Matthew 23:11 stands as a direct counter-mandate to the hypocrisy and self-exaltation condemned earlier in the chapter. Jesus presents an absolute truth about spiritual authority: it flows from humble service. The greater one is, the more profound their servanthood must be. This teaching isn't merely advice; it's a divine law governing the Kingdom of God, a radical inversion of human power dynamics. The ambition to be "great" is not condemned, but the method of achieving it is fundamentally re-shaped: one serves others, not oneself. This principle is not just for formal leaders but for every believer, mirroring Christ’s own life as the ultimate example of the Servant King. Practical application involves seeking opportunities to meet the needs of others, foregoing personal recognition, and seeing oneself as a conduit of blessing rather than an object of honor. For example, a leader serves their team by providing resources and removing obstacles, not by merely delegating. A parent serves their child by selfless care and guidance.