Luke 22:24-38
Greatness Must Serve
Read the passage
24A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
25So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.
26But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.
27For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.
28You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.
29And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,
30so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.
32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”
34But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
36“Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.
37For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
38So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The apostles begin arguing about which of them is considered the greatest. Jesus tells them that the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship, and those in authority are called benefactors.
But it must not be that way among His disciples. The greatest should become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. Jesus asks who is greater, the one at table or the one who serves. He is among them as the one who serves.
Jesus tells the apostles that they have stayed with Him in His trials, and He assigns them a kingdom as the Father assigned one to Him. They will eat and drink at His table and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Then Jesus tells Simon that Satan has demanded to sift the disciples like wheat, but He has prayed that Simon's faith may not fail. Simon will turn again and strengthen his brothers. Jesus warns him that he will deny knowing Him three times. Peter has promised to go with him even to prison and death, but Jesus knows how soon his courage will fail. His prayer and his command to return and strengthen the others give Peter hope beyond that failure.
Jesus then reminds them that they lacked nothing on their earlier mission. Now they are to take a purse and bag, and he speaks of buying a sword. He says that Isaiah's words about being numbered with transgressors must be fulfilled in him. The circumstances are changing as he goes toward arrest. When they point out two swords, he replies that it is enough.
How We Know
Jesus quotes Isaiah 53:12, which describes the servant pouring out his life and being numbered with transgressors. Luke 22:49–51 also matters when reading the sword instruction: during the arrest, Jesus stops a disciple's attack and heals the wounded man. His words here should not be made into a command to establish his kingdom by armed force.
Questions
1 What are the apostles arguing about?
AnswerThey are arguing about which of them is considered the greatest, even as Jesus prepares for suffering.
2 How does Jesus redefine leadership?
AnswerThe greatest should become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. Jesus presents Himself as the servant among them.
3 What has Jesus prayed for Simon?
AnswerHe has prayed that Simon's faith will not fail. After Simon turns again, he is to strengthen his brothers.
4 What does Jesus warn Simon about?
AnswerHe warns that Simon will deny knowing Him three times before the rooster crows. Jesus speaks the failure plainly while also promising that Simon can turn again.
What This Means for Us
Jesus does not deny that His disciples will receive responsibility; He changes the meaning of greatness. Authority exists to serve, strengthen, and protect rather than to collect honor.
Simon will fail, but Jesus' prayer anticipates repentance and renewed usefulness. Families can correct ambition without treating one failure as the end of a person's calling.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, make our household leaders who serve. Protect us from rivalry, sustain faith when we fail, and give us grace to return and strengthen one another rather than compete for honor. Amen.