Who Is the Greatest?

18 ^(A)At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you ^(B)turn and ^(C)become like children, you ^(D)will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ^4 (E)Whoever humbles himself like this child is the ^(F)greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

^5 (G)“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ And ^(A)they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house ^(B)he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way ^(C)they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ^(D)“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and ^(E)taking him in his arms, he said to them, ^37 (F)“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and ^(G)whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

A Mother's Request

^20 (A)Then ^(B)the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and ^(C)kneeling before him she asked him for something. ²¹ And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine ^(D)are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, ^(E)in your kingdom.” ²² Jesus answered, ^(F)“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ^(G)to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³ He said to them, ^(H)“You will drink ^(I)my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, ^(J)but it is for those for whom it has been ^(K)prepared by my Father.” ²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to him and said, ^(L)“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles ^(M)lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ^26 (N)It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,^{[a] 27} and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,^{[b] 28} even as the Son of Man came not to be served but ^(O)to serve, and ^(P)to give his life as a ransom for ^(Q)many.”

The Request of James and John

^35 (A)And James and John, ^(B)the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us ^(C)whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, ^(D)“What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us ^(E)to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, ^(F)in your glory.” ³⁸ Jesus said to them, ^(G)“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ^(H)to drink the cup that I drink, or ^(I)to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, ^(J)“The cup that I drink ^(K)you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, ^(L)you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, ^(M)but it is for those for whom it has been ^(N)prepared.” ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ^42 (O)And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles ^(P)lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But ^(Q)it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,^{[a] 44} and whoever would be first among you must be ^(R)slave^[b] of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but ^(S)to serve, and ^(T)to give his life as a ransom for ^(U)many.”