Luke 22:26

Luk 22:26. [Ὑμεῖς δὲ, but ye) Having lowered (humbled) them by this address to them, He exalts them by that other in Luk 22:28.—V. g.]—νεώτερος, younger) in age or in discipleship.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk 22:26 . ὑμεῖς δὲ , etc., but ye not so, elliptical, ἔσεσθε or ποιήσετε understood. ὁ νεώτερος , the younger, “who in Eastern families fulfils menial duties, Act 5:6 ” (Farrar). ὁ ἡγούμενος , the leader or chief, the name of those in office in the Church in Heb 13:7 , also in the epistle of Clement; therefore viewed by some as a note of a late date, but without sufficient reason.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But ye . . . not--Of how little avail has this condemnation of "lordship" and vain titles been against the vanity of Christian ecclesiastics?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 26. Let him be as the younger] Dr. Lightfoot justly conjectures that Peter was the eldest of all the disciples; and he supposes that the strife was kindled between him and the sons of Zebedee, James and John. These three disciples were those whom Christ had distinguished by peculiar marks of his favour; and therefore it is natural to conclude that the strife lay between these three, the two brothers and Peter. Shall we or Peter be at the head? Neither, says our Lord. Let him, Peter, who is chief (ο μειζων, the eldest) among you, be as, John, ο νεωτερος, the younger. The younger part of the disciples do not appear to have taken any part in this contention; and our Lord shows Peter, and the sons of Zebedee, that they must be as unambitious as the younger in order to be acknowledged as his disciples. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that Peter was the mover of this strife, and therefore our Lord rebukes him by name.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(26) He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger.—The latter word naturally carried with it, as in the old monastic rule, juniores ad labores, the idea of service. In Act_5:6, “the young men” appear as a distinct body in the society of disciples, with functions like those of the later deacons or sextons; and the same sense is, perhaps, traceable in 1Ti_5:1; Tit_2:6; 1Pe_5:5.

He that is chief.—Here again the Greek word came to have a half-technical sense as equivalent, or nearly so, to bishop or presbyter. So in Heb_13:7; Heb_13:17; Heb_13:24, where it is rendered “they that have the rule over you.”

He that doth serve.—The verb is the same as that from which the word “deacon” is derived, and, with Mat_23:11, Mar_10:43, probably suggested the ecclesiastical use of the word. It is noticeable that the first recorded example of that use is in the salutation to “the bishops and deacons” of Philippi (Php_1:1), the Church which more than any other was under St. Luke’s influence. The “seven” of Act_6:3; Act_6:5, of whom we commonly speak as the first deacons, are never so named in the New Testament.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. let him be] Rather, let him become,—let him shew himself to be in reality.

the younger] who in Eastern families often fulfils menial duties. Act_5:6.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For whether is greater,.... Christ appeals to themselves, and puts a case that is plain and obvious to any one, who is the greater, and more honourable person;

he that sitteth at meat; that sits, or lies down at table, and another waits on him:

or he that serveth? that stands behind, observes orders, and ministers to those that sit down:

is not he that sitteth at meat? you, and every one must own, that he is the greatest, and most honourable person:

but I am among you as he that serveth; Christ took upon him the form of a servant, and instead of being ministered unto, ministered to others; and had very lately, but two days before, gird himself, and took a basin and a towel, and washed and wiped the feet of his disciples: now our Lord, by his own example throughout the whole of his conduct among them, as well as by such a single action, would dissuade from their ambitious views of superiority over each other, and learn of him who was meek and lowly, and by love serve one another.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

26 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.

Ver. 26. See Mat 20:25; Mar 10:42.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But ye shall not be so - Christ here takes occasion to explain the nature of his kingdom. He assures them that it is established on different principles from those of the world; that his subjects were not to expect titles, and power, and offices of pomp in his kingdom. He that would be most advanced in “his” kingdom would be he that was most humble; and in order to show them this, he took a towel and girded himself after the manner of a servant, and washed their feet, to show them what ought to be their feelings toward each other. See Joh 13:4-17.

He that sitteth at meat - The master of the feast, or one of his guests.

But I am among you ... - This was said in connection with his washing their feet. He “showed” them how they ought to feel and act toward each other. “They” ought, therefore, not to aim at office and power, but to be humble, and serve and aid one another.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

26. Shall not be so—The spirit to be lords over God’s heritage, and not servants, shall not reign in your hearts. This does not condemn a true ecclesiastical order; but it does condemn all ecclesiastical ambition, and all aspiration after selfish power.

Chief… doth verse—All office should be service. Every man should abdicate and disuse every authority over another which is not for the best good.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But ye are to be benefactors to mankind, not by governing, but by serving.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Connecting Statement:

Jesus continues teaching his apostles.

it must not be like this with you

"you should not act like that"

the youngest

Older people were respected in that culture. The leaders were usually older people and were called "elders." The youngest person would be the least likely to lead, and the least important. AT: "the least important" (See: Metaphor)

the one who serves

"a servant"

For

This connects Jesus' commands in verse 26 with the whole of verse 27. It means that the most important person should serve because Jesus is a servant.

For who is greater ... serves?

"For who is more important ... serves?" Jesus uses this question to begin to explain to the apostles who is truly great. AT: "I want you to think about who is greater ... serves." (See: Rhetorical Question)

the one who sits at the table

"the one who is dining"

Is it not the one who sits at the table?

Jesus uses another question to teach the disciples. AT: "Of course the one who sits at the table is more important than the servant!" (See: Rhetorical Question)

Yet I am among you as one who serves

"But I am with you to be a servant" or "But I am with you to show you how a servant acts." The word "yet" is here because there is a contrast between what people would expect Jesus to be like and what he really was like.

translationWords

servant

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

26. ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐχο ὕτως. Understand ἐστέ. Your case is different. St Peter learnt this lesson well. See 1Pe 5:3.

γινέσθω. ‘Let him become,’—let him shew himself to be.

ὡς ὁ νεώτερος. Who in Eastern families fulfils menial duties. Act 5:6.

ὡς ὁ διακονῶν. The true Euergetes is the humble brother, not the subtle tyrant. See Mat 20:28; Php 2:7. St Luke here omits the beautiful acted parable of the Lord washing the disciples’ feet (Joh 13:1-20), as also the words to Judas, and his going forth into the night.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26.] οὕτως, i.e. ἔσεσθε.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. ὁ μείζων. He who is really above the rest. True greatness involves service to others: noblesse oblige. For γινέσθω, “let him prove himself to be,” comp. 10:36, 12:40, 16:11, 19:17. We have an echo of this 1Pe 5:3. For νεώτερος as διακονῶν comp. Act 5:6, Act 5:10: νεώτερον δὲ λέγει τὸν ἔσχατον (Euthym.), the lowest in rank.

The Latin Versions have junior (e f Vulg.), minor (a c ff2 i), minus (d, μεικρότερος D), juvenis (r), adulescentior (b q).

For ὁ ἡγούμενος we have qui præest (a b f q), qui princeps est (r). qui primes est (l) qui præsens est (e), qui ducatum agit (d), qui præcessor est (Vulg.). In N.T. ἡγέομαι means “lead” only in pres. part., and most often in Lk. It is used of any leader. ecclesiasticat of civil (Act 7:10, Act 7:14:12. Act 7:15:22; Mat 2:6; Heb 13:7, Heb 13:17, Heb 13:24). In LXX it is freq.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Doth serve. See on minister, Mt 20:26.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.