Mark - 9:35

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  2. Mark
  3. 9
  4. 35
  1. In-Depth
  2. Discusion

35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Mark 9:35.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
And sitting down, he called the twelve, and saith to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all, and the minister of all.
And sitting down he called the twelve; and he says to them, If any one would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.
And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith to them, If any man desireth to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
and having sat down he called the twelve, and he saith to them, 'If any doth will to be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.'
Then sitting down He called the Twelve, and said to them, "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
And seating himself, he made the twelve come to him; and he said to them, If any man has the desire to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.
And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, 'If any man wants to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.'
And sitting down, he called the twelve, and he said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be the last of all and the minister of all."
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all."

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And he sat down,.... As their master, as one having authority; and in order to examine into this matter, and pass judgment upon it:
and called the twelve; all the disciples, who though they might not be all engaged in this dispute, nor equally criminal, yet were all, possessed of the same notion; and therefore Christ calls them all unto him, what he had to say, being pertinent unto them all:
and saith unto them, if any man desire to be first; to have the pre-eminence, and be in the chief place in the kingdom of the Messiah,
the same shall be last of all, and servant of all: his pride and vanity shall be checked; his ambitious views shall be frustrated; instead of being first, he shall be last; and instead of having superior reverence and respect, he shall be debased, and treated with neglect and contempt; and instead of being the master over others, shall be the servant of all. Some copies read, "let him be"; and so the Persic version, "let him be last, and minister to every one"; and the Ethiopic thus, "let him subject himself to all, and be servant to all"; for the only way to preferment in Christ's kingdom, or in the Gospel dispensation, is humility and meekness, and performing the lowest services to all, with diligence and cheerfulness.

If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all--that is, "let him be" such: he must be prepared to take the last and lowest place. See on Mark 10:42-45.

Servant of all. The two conditions of true greatness are humility and service; not to be the servant of friends, or kindred, or of a class, or even of church members, but of all, like Christ.

Let him be the least of all - Let him abase himself the most.

*More commentary available at chapter level.

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