The Meaning of Matthew 20:27 Explained

Matthew 20:27

KJV: And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

YLT: and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant;

Darby: and whosoever will be first among you, let him be your bondman;

ASV: and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  whosoever  will  be  chief  among  you,  let him be  your  servant: 

What does Matthew 20:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 20:17-28 - Serving Nobler Than Self-Seeking
For the third time our Lord foretells His death. In Matthew 16:21, He dwelt especially on the shame of His rejection; in Matthew 17:23, He told how the gates of death would open on the Easter joy. Now He declares the method of His death, and tells how Gentiles would join with His own people in the tragedy of the Cross. He was no martyr, who went unknowing to his doom. He set His face to go to the Cross. Others die because they were born; He was born that He might die.
Many desire the power of the throne, without being prepared to pay the price of suffering. Others say glibly and easily, We can, little realizing what their choice involves, and that nothing but the grace of God can make their vow possible of fulfillment. But it is sufficient! Only claim it. God will not fail you! Notice Matthew 20:28. The Lord ministers to us all, daily, patiently, lovingly. He took on Him the form of a servant and became obedient. Serve all men for His sake! We have to go down to reach His side. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 20

1  Jesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;
17  foretells his passion;
20  by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;
29  and gives two blind men their sight

Greek Commentary for Matthew 20:27

Servant [διάκονος]
Δοῦλος , perhaps from δέω , to bind, is the bondman, representing the permanent relation of servitude. Διάκονος , probably from the same root as διώκω , to pursue, represents a servant, not in his relation, but in his activity. The term covers both slaves and hired servants. The attendants at the feast at Cana (John 2:5) are called διάικονοι . In the epistles διάκονος is often used specifically for a minister of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 3:7). The word deacon is, moreover, almost a transcription of it (Philemon 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:12). It is applied to Phoebe (Romans 16:1). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 20:27 mean?

and whoever - wishes among you to be first he will be your slave
καὶ ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος

ὃς  whoever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
θέλῃ  wishes 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
εἶναι  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
πρῶτος  first 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πρῶτος  
Sense: first in time or place.
ἔσται  he  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ὑμῶν  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
δοῦλος  slave 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.