Matthew 20 · Verse 25

Matthew 20:25

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Matthew 20:25, King James Version

Matthew 20:25 in other translations

BSBBut Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
WEBBut Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
ASVBut Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
YLTand Jesus having called them near, said, ‘Ye have known that the rulers of the nations do exercise lordship over them, and those great do exercise authority over them,
DARBYBut Jesus having called them to him, said, Ye know that the rulers of the nations exercise lordship over them, and the great exercise authority over them.
BBEBut Jesus said to them, You see that the rulers of the Gentiles are lords over them, and their great ones have authority over them.
WebsterBut Jesus called them to him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

What does Matthew 20:25 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verses 25-27. But Jesus called them unto him. That is, he called all the apostles to him, and stated the principles on which they were to act. The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them; that is, over their subjects. "You know that such honours are customary among nations. The kings of the earth raise their favourites to posts of trust and power. They give authority to some over others. But my kingdom is established in a different manner. There are to be no ranks; no places of dominion. All are to be on a level. The rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the bond, the free, are to be equal. He will be the most distinguished that shows most humility, the deepest sense of his unworthiness, and the most earnest desire to promote the welfare of his brethren."

Gentiles. All who were not Jews--used here to denote the manner in which human governments are constituted.

Minister. A servant. The original word is deacon--a word meaning a servant of any kind; one especially who served at the table; and, in the New Testament, one who serves the church, Acts 6:1-4, 1Timm 3:8. Preachers of the gospel are called ministers because they are the servants of God and the church, 1Cor 3:6, 4:1, 2Cor 3:6, 6:4, Eph 4:12; an office, therefore, which forbids them to lord it over God's heritage; which is the very opposite of a station of superiority, and which demands the very lowest degree of humility.

(q) "Ye know" Lk 22:25,26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 Exercise dominion - and - exercise authority upon them - They tyrannized and exercised arbitrary power over the people. This was certainly true of the governments in our Lord's time, both in the east and in the west. I have endeavored to express, as nearly as possible, the meaning of the two Greek verbs, κατακυριευουσιν, and κατεξουσιαζουσιν; and those who understand the genius of the language will perceive that I have not exhausted their sense, however some may think that no emphasis was intended, and that these compound verbs are used for the simple κυριευειν, and εξουσιαζειν. See Wakefield and Rosenmuller. The government of the Church of Christ is widely different from secular governments. It is founded in humility and brotherly love: it is derived from Christ, the great Head of the Church, and is ever conducted by his maxims and spirit. When political matters are brought into the Church of Christ, both are ruined. The Church has more than once ruined the State; the State has often corrupted the Church: it is certainly for the interests of both to be kept separate. This has already been abundantly exemplified in both cases, and will continue so to be, over the whole world, wherever the Church and State are united in secular matters.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 20:20-28

The sons of Zebedee abused what Christ said to comfort the disciples. Some cannot have comforts but they turn them to a wrong purpose. Pride is a sin that most easily besets us; it is sinful ambition to outdo others in pomp and grandeur. To put down the vanity and ambition of their request, Christ leads them to the thoughts of their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk of; a cup of trembling, but not…

Read the full comment on Matthew 20:20-28 →

Matthew 20:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
προσκαλεσάμενοςproskalesamenoshaving called to [him]G4341
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
εἶπεν·eipensaid;G2036
οἴδατεoidateYou know
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οἱhoitheG3588
ἄρχοντεςarchontesrulersG758
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἐθνῶνethnōnGentilesG1484
κατακυριεύουσινkatakurieuousinexercise lordship overG2634
αὐτῶν,autōnthem,G846
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
μεγάλοιmegaloigreat onesG3173
κατεξουσιάζουσινkatexousiazousinexercise authority overG2715
αὐτῶν.autōnthem.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 20:25

  • Luke 22:25-27

    And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 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. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

  • Matthew 20:25-28

    But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

  • John 13:12-17

    So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. …

  • Mark 10:42

    But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

  • Matthew 18:3-4

    And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

  • Matthew 11:29

    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

  • Daniel 5:19

    And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

  • Daniel 2:12-13

    For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
called.
11:29; 18:3,4; Joh 13:12-17
the princes.
Mr 10:42; Lu 22:25-27
exercise dominion.
Da 2:12,13,37-45; 3:2-7,15,19-22; 5:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 20:24

    And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

  • Matthew 20:25

    But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

  • Matthew 20:26

    But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Read all of Matthew 20

Matthew 20:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Jesús llamándolos, dijo: Sabéis que los príncipes de los Gentiles se enseñorean sobre ellos, y los que son grandes ejercen sobre ellos potestad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jésus, les ayant appelés auprès de lui, dit: Vous savez que les chefs des nations dominent sur elles, et que les grands usent d’autorité sur elles.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jesus aber rief sie herzu und sprach: Ihr wisset, daß die Regenten der Nationen über dieselben herrschen und die Großen Gewalt über sie üben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Jesus autem vocavit eos ad se, et ait: Scitis quia principes gentium dominantur eorum: et qui majores sunt, potestatem exercent in eos.