Luke 9:46
44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
45 But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.
48 And 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 whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
- KJV
- Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
- WEB
- An argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest.
- ASV
- And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest.
- DARBY
- And a reasoning came in amongst them, who should be [the] greatest of them.
- BLB
- And a reasoning entered among them, who might be the greater of them.
- ÅB
- Men det kom en tanke opp i dem om hvem som vel var den største av dem.
- OTB
- En strid oppstod blant disiplene om hvem av dem som ville være den største.
- B1930
- Men det kom en tanke op i dem om hvem som vel var den største av dem.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 18:1–5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Read in contextMatthew 20:20–22
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
Read in contextMark 9:33–37
Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
Read in context3 John 1:9
I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
Read in contextPhilippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Read in contextPhilippians 2:14
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
Read in contextMatthew 23:6–7
They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,
Read in contextLuke 14:7–11
When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
Read in context