The Meaning of Luke 22:26 Explained

Luke 22:26

KJV: 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.

YLT: but ye are not so, but he who is greater among you -- let him be as the younger; and he who is leading, as he who is ministering;

Darby: But ye shall not be thus; but let the greater among you be as the younger, and the leader as he that serves.

ASV: But ye'shall not be'so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Discover Luke 22:26

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Luke 22:26?

MEANING: What does Luke 22:26 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Luke 22:26 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Luke 22:26?

What is the context of Luke 22:26?

The Dispute over Greatness (Luke 22:24-30)
A Dispute About Who Is Greatest (Luke 22:24-30)
Who Is the Greatest? (Luke 22:24-30)
An Argument about Greatness (Luke 22:24-30)
The Disciples Argue About Greatness (Luke 22:24-30)
Who Is Greatest? (Luke 22:24-38)
The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-30)
The Last Supper .( H .) .( I .) .( J .) .( K .) .( L .) (Luke 22:7-38)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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.

What does Luke 22:26 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Typically the younger serve the elder, and the servants serve the leaders. The aged enjoyed great veneration in the ancient Near East. However with disciples all must serve regardless of age or responsibility (cf. Acts 5:6; 1 Timothy 5:1; Titus 2:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Luke"s selection of terminology ("is greatest," "youngest," "leader," and "servant," lit. deacon) in this pericope suggests that he may have had church leaders especially in mind. ^[1]

Context Summary

Luke 22:24-34 - Disciples Who Grieve Their Lord

It is probable that this dispute about priority took place on their entering the supper room. It could hardly have taken place after the tender scene of John 13:1-38. But doubtless the irritated feelings which that contention engendered prepared the way for the testing, sifting and ultimate fall of Peter. It is the little waves that eventually become the mighty billows which wreck the big ships and engulf human lives.

Satan cannot assail us until he has asked and obtained permission, Luke 22:31. God does not tempt, though He permits us to be tempted, as in the case of Job; but with the temptation there is always a way of escape, if we wait on Him, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. How often does our Lord anticipate our trial hours by His prayers, Luke 22:32! We owe it to them, either that we do not fall, or that, having fallen, we turn back. This is the best use we can make even of our failures; they teach us humility, pity, and how to help others. How little do we know ourselves! See Luke 22:33-34. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 22

¹ The leaders conspire against Jesus
³ Satan prepares Judas to betray him
⁷ The apostles prepare the Passover
¹⁹ Jesus institutes his holy supper;
²¹ covertly foretells of the traitor;
²⁴ rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
³¹ assures Peter his faith should not fail;
³⁴ and yet he should deny him thrice
³⁹ He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
⁴⁷ is betrayed with a kiss;
⁵⁰ he heals Malchus' ear;
⁵⁴ he is thrice denied by Peter;
⁶³ shamefully abused;
⁶⁶ and confesses himself to be the Son of God

Greek Commentary for Luke 22:26

Become [γινεστω]
Present middle imperative of γινομαι ginomai Act so. True greatness is in service, not in rank. [source]

Doth serve []
See on minister, Matthew 20:26. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:26 mean?

You however not thus [shall be] Instead the greatest among you let him be as younger and the [one] leading serving

ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐχ οὕτως ἀλλ’ ὁ μείζων ἐν ὑμῖν γινέσθω ὡς νεώτερος καὶ ὁ ἡγούμενος διακονῶν

δὲ	however
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
οὕτως	thus [shall be]
Parse: Adverb Root: οὕτως Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
ἀλλ’	Instead
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἀλλά Sense: but.
μείζων	greatest
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative Root: μέγας Sense: great.
γινέσθω	let him be
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: γίνομαι Sense: to become, i.
νεώτερος	younger
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative Root: νέος Sense: recently born, young, youthful.
ὁ	the [one]
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἡγούμενος	leading
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἐπιτροπεύω Sense: to lead.
διακονῶν	serving
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: διακονέω Sense: to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon.

What are the major concepts related to Luke 22:26?

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Similar Scriptures for Luke 22:26

		Luke 9:48 [5]
		Matthew 23:8-12 [4]
		1 Peter 5:3 [4]
		Mark 9:35 [4]
		3 John 1:9-10 [3]
		Romans 12:2 [3]
		1 Peter 5:5 [3]
		Matthew 18:3-5 [3]