03/16/2026
🍀 Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? 🍀
The disciples' dispute (Greek: strife, meaning argument, struggle, conflict, contention) about who was the greatest is mentioned in three of the four Gospels: Mark 9:33-37, Matthew 18:1-5, Luke 9:46-48, and Luke 22:24-30.
What does "great" mean in the context of "who is the greatest"? In fact, the Lord Jesus has already told us His definition. In Matthew 18:4, the Lord Jesus tells us: "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." In the kingdom of heaven, those who are humble like children are the greatest.
(Matthew 18:1-5 NIV)
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."
Why is the emphasis on being humble like a child? Because a child's own ability is weak; a child does not rely on their own ability. A child simply seeks help from adults, relying on their strength and guidance. Similarly, in Jesus, we must seek Jesus' help, rely on His ability and leadership. Only in Jesus can we have a continuous source of true strength. Therefore, the "greatness" defined by the Lord Jesus means that in His eyes, those who humbly seek Him are considered great.
The Lord Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:1-5 includes three key points:
(1) We must change and become like little children; otherwise, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
(2) Those who are humble like children can not only enter the kingdom of heaven but are also the greatest in it.
(3) Welcoming a person who humbly seeks and relies on Jesus, like a child, for Jesus' name, is equivalent to welcoming the Lord Jesus Himself.
Next, in Matthew 23:6, the Lord Jesus describes the scribes and Pharisees loving the places of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues. Then, in verses 11-12, the Lord Jesus teaches us based on this phenomenon: "The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." This means that if someone desires in their heart to be great, that is actually self-exaltation. The Lord Jesus will humble those who exalt themselves; when a person begins to be humble in their heart, the Lord Jesus will exalt them.
(Matthew 23:6 NIV)
They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
(Matthew 23:11-12 NIV)
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
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So, where is the kingdom of heaven?
When Jesus preached the gospel in the world, He said: "The kingdom of heaven has come near." At that time, the kingdom had not yet arrived.
(Matthew 4:17 NIV)
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Jesus said to the disciples present, "Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
(Mark 9:1 NIV)
And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended, and the kingdom of heaven came.
(Acts 1:4-5, 8 NIV)
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit... But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
(Acts 2:1-3, 17, 21, 33 NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them... "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people... And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'... Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
Where does the kingdom of heaven descend? It descends into the hearts of the disciples.
(Luke 17:20-21 NIV)
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
Receiving the Holy Spirit means the kingdom of heaven is within you.
(Luke 17:21 NIV)
nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
(Romans 14:17 NIV)
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
(John 14:17, 20 NIV)
the Spirit of truth... you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ... On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
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(Mark 9:33-37 NIV)
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."
In Mark 9:33-37, Jesus asked the disciples what they were arguing about on the road, and they were silent because they had been arguing about who was the greatest. Why were they silent? Because they themselves knew it was shameful to argue about who was the greatest, and they thought Jesus didn't know what they were arguing about.
However, Jesus certainly knew what they were arguing about, because Jesus is God manifested in the flesh; the Spirit of Jesus is the Spirit of God, who searches hearts and minds.
So Jesus called the disciples over and explained the truth to them: "Anyone who wants (desires) to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." Here, Jesus does not say, "If anyone is first," but "If anyone wants (desires) to be first." This means that someone desires in their heart to be first among the believers. But the Lord Jesus says that person must be last, a servant to all.
The Lord Jesus was essentially telling the disciples not to strive for greatness in the church. If one seeks greatness, it must be according to the Lord's definition of greatness – which is humble service to others. The church is the body of Jesus. Jesus came to serve humbly, so the church is a body that serves humbly. The Lord Jesus specifically mentioned: "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me." This means that when we serve others, we must especially accept and care for those who are weak, lowly, and seeking Jesus.
Why should we accept and care for the weak and lowly? Because Jesus shows no partiality; He values every weak member. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a member of His body. The teaching of the Lord Jesus is: The parts we think are weaker are indispensable; the parts we think are less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and the unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty. God has combined the members of the body, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
(1 Corinthians 12:22-27 NIV)
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
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(Luke 9:46-48 NIV)
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and made him stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest."
In Luke 9:46-48, the Lord Jesus brought a little child to illustrate how He views greatness and smallness in the kingdom of heaven. The Lord Jesus said, "It is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest," telling us that those who are most humble like children are the greatest. (See also Matthew and Mark).
(Luke 22:20-23 NIV)
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!" They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
(Luke 22:24-30 NIV)
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 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. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
After eating the Passover meal (pointing to the New Covenant communion) with Jesus, the disciples began to argue again about who was considered the greatest.
Jesus said that the Gentiles (those who do not believe in Jesus) have kings who rule and exercise authority over them, but it is not so among Jesus' disciples. Those who care for the brothers and sisters in the church should be humble like the youngest, serving everyone.
Who is greater, the one at the table or the one who serves? It seems the one at the table is greater, yet Jesus said the one at the table serves. Jesus is the host of the feast; He sits at the head of the table, yet He is the one who serves. So today, in God's kingdom, as we sit at the feast Jesus has prepared, we are all called to serve one another.
Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
(1 Peter 5:2-4 NIV)
Thank You, Lord.
