Matthew 23 · Verse 11

Matthew 23:11

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11, King James Version

Matthew 23:11 in other translations

BSBThe greatest among you shall be your servant.
WEBBut he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
ASVBut he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
YLTAnd the greater of you shall be your ministrant,
DARBYBut the greatest of you shall be your servant.
BBEBut let the greatest among you be your servant.
WebsterBut he that is greatest among you, shall be your servant.

What does Matthew 23:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant--This plainly means, "shall show that he is so by becoming your servant"; as in Mt 20:27, compared with Mr 10:44.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 11,12. Mt 20:26. He that shall humble himself, etc. God will exalt or honour him that is humble, and that seeks a lowly place among men. That is true religion, and God will and God will reward it.

(y) "But he" Mt 20:26,27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Your servant - Διακονος, deacon. See on Mat 20:26 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12

The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:1-12 →

Matthew 23:11 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
μείζωνmeizōnthe greatestG3173
ὑμῶνhumōnamong youG4771
ἔσταιestaiwill beG1510
ὑμῶνhumōnyourG4771
διάκονος.diakonosservant.G1249

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

Cross references for Matthew 23:11

  • 1 Corinthians 9:19

    For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

  • Galatians 5:13

    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

  • John 13:14-15

    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 10:43-44

    But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:5

    For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

  • Luke 22:26-27

    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.

  • Philippians 2:5-8

    Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  • Matthew 20:26-27

    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:

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:26,27; Mr 10:43,44; Lu 22:26,27; Joh 13:14,15; 1Co 9:19; 2Co 4:5
2Co 11:23; Ga 5:13; Php 2:5-8

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

Context

  • Matthew 23:10

    Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

  • Matthew 23:11

    But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

  • Matthew 23:12

    And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que es el mayor de vosotros, sea vuestro siervo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais le plus grand de vous sera votre serviteur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Größte aber unter euch soll euer Diener sein.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui major est vestrum, erit minister vester.