^22:25So⁶⁰ Jesus⁶¹ said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’⁶²^22:26Not so with you;⁶³ instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader⁶⁴ like the one who serves.⁶⁵^22:27For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table,⁶⁶ or the one who serves? Is it not⁶⁷ the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one⁶⁸ who serves.

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Footnotes

60 Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the dispute among the apostles.
61 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
62 The title ‘benefactor,’ highlighting grace and meaning something like “helper of the people,” was even given to tyrants (2 Macc 4:2; 3 Macc 3:19; Josephus, 3.9.8 [3.459]).
63 Grk “But you are not thus.”
64 Or “the ruler.”
65 And the leader like the one who serves. Leadership was not to be a matter of privilege and special status, but of service. All social status is leveled out by these remarks. Jesus himself is the prime example of the servant-leader.
66 Grk “who reclines at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
67 The interrogative particle used here in the Greek text (οὐχί, ouchi) expects a positive reply.
68 Jesus’ example of humble service, as one who serves, shows that the standard for a disciple is different from that of the world. For an example see John 13:1–17.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

NLTNew Living Translation

Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors. But you are not to be like this! But the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 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 in your midst as the one who serves.

KJV 1900King James Version

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

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