Verse 1

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Matt 20:20-28 : 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling before him and asking something from him. 21 'What do you want?' he asked. She said to him, 'Declare that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.' 22 Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?' They said to him, 'We are able.' 23 He said to them, 'You will indeed drink my cup and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left hand is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.' 24 When the ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.' 26 'It shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.' 27 'And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.' 28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
  • Luke 9:46-48 : 46 An argument arose among them about which of them might be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had the child stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the least among you who is the greatest.'
  • Mark 9:33-37 : 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' 34 But they kept silent, because on the way they had been arguing about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.' 36 He took a little child, placed him in the midst of them, and, taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 'Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'
  • Mark 10:14-15 : 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' 15 'Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'
  • Mark 10:35-45 : 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, 'Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.' 36 'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked. 37 They replied, 'Let one of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.' 38 Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?' 39 'We can,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 'but to sit at my right or left is not mine to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.' 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.' 43 'But it shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,' 44 'and whoever wants to be first must be a slave to all.' 45 'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
  • Luke 22:24-27 : 24 Then a dispute arose among them about who was considered to be the greatest. 25 But he said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.' 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
  • Matt 3:2 : 2 and saying, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.'