Luke 22:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

NIV: For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

NASB: For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

CSB: For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

NLT: Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

This chapter compares the disciples' and religious leaders' beliefs about the Messiah to the truth of the new covenant. Here is the heart of Jesus' message: the Messiah is One who serves. He is not one who needs the approval of the priests, kings, and civil leaders. He does not march His army into Jerusalem and drive out the Romans. He does not wrestle for power against His peers. He lays down His life. He is like a host who has invited a group to a formal meal: such as twelve disciples for Passover. Then He serves by washing the disciples' feet (John 13:1–17).

Will the disciples take His example? Will we? Will we demand authority in the church, lord over those we lead, and walk proudly in the accolades of the people? Or will we assume menial jobs when they need to be done and think of others higher than ourselves (Philippians 2:3)?

Jesus does recline at the table at the Last Supper. The foot-washing is a small part of the evening compared to the meal and Jesus' extensive teaching (John 13:21—17:26). He will take authority over His kingdom with force (Revelation 19:11–21). The disciples will be given authority to rule over Israel, and church leaders will be rewarded for their service (Luke 22:28–30).

Here, however, Jesus serves by going to the cross. The disciples will serve by giving their lives to spread the gospel. That is the kind of leadership to which Christ-followers are called.

Luke 22:24–30 is the heart of Luke 22. The disciples have a choice: will they grasp for worldly power like the Gentiles or will they strive to be servant-leaders like their Messiah? New covenant leadership in God's kingdom is service. The disciples' self-involvement fits perfectly between Jesus' warnings of Judas's betrayal (Luke 22:21–23) and Peter's denials (Luke 22:31–34). Some scholars suggest this exchange provides a springboard for Jesus to wash the disciples' feet in a demonstration of servant leadership (John 13:1–17). This passage contains information unique to this gospel.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.