PrevLuke 22:25Next

Luke 22

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

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.

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What does Luke 22:25 mean?

Explanation

Luke 22:25 addresses the way authority and power are exercised in secular contexts, contrasting it with the Christian model of leadership that Jesus was advocating.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples during the Last Supper, after a dispute among them about who should be considered the greatest.

Jesus points out that the rulers of the Gentiles (i.e., non-Jewish nations) lord over their subjects and are often seen as benefactors, despite their authoritarian rule.

The use of the term "benefactors" here is likely ironic, as the practice of leaders bestowing benefits to increase their own prestige was common.

Jesus uses this observation to set the stage for teaching a different kind of leadership: one based on service rather than power.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the Roman Empire dominated much of the known world, and the concept of leadership involved hierarchies and a clear power structure.

Roman and Hellenistic rulers, including client kings of the Roman Empire, would often take on titles like "benefactor" or "savior" as a public relations strategy to cultivate loyalty and justify their rule.

These titles were meant to suggest that their rule was a philanthropic and civilizing force, even when it could be oppressive.

The disciples would have been familiar with such political structures and the authoritarian leadership styles they entailed.

Jesus uses this familiar political context as a backdrop to contrast the domineering practices of secular leaders with the servant leadership he advocates.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, Luke 22:25 reveals a couple of perspectives:

Servant Leadership: This verse sets the stage for verses 26 and 27, where Jesus introduces the idea that the greatest among His followers must be like the youngest and those who lead must be like ones who serve.

This notion stands in stark contrast to the power dynamics of the day and carries forward into Christian leadership principles. 2. Humility: Implicit in Jesus' critique is a call to humility.

By contrasting His followers with worldly rulers, He indicates that the pursuit of personal glory and power is at odds with the values of the Kingdom of God.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, the teachings of Luke 22:25 can be applied in various ways.

Here are some examples:

Leadership: Individuals in leadership positions, whether in churches, organizations, or families, can emulate Jesus' model by prioritizing the needs of others and serving rather than seeking to be served.
Humility: In all relationships, practicing humility means refraining from exploiting power over others or seeking status, and instead looking for ways to contribute positively to the well-being of the community.
Social Justice: Advocates for social justice can draw from this verse the principle of lifting up the marginalized and working against systems that perpetuate inequality and abuse of power.

Cross-References

Matthew 20:25-28: "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

But it shall not be so among you..."

Mark 10:42-45: "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them..."
Philippians 2:3: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

Language Study

The key words in this passage include:

"exercise lordship" (Greek: κυριεύω, kyrieuō): to rule or have dominion over.
"benefactors" (Greek: εύεργέτης, euergetēs): traditionally a title given to noble persons who did public service or philanthropy, here it carries a sense of sarcasm.

The nuanced use of 'benefactors' highlights the contrast between the appearance of generosity and the reality of underlying power structures.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The Roman emperors, Hellenistic kings, and other rulers during the era were often compared to gods and were viewed as semi-divine figures.

This would be reflected in their taking on the title "euergetes" as they performed acts that seemed to benefit their subjects or the state, bolstering their legitimacy.

In other cultures, such as those in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, kings were often seen as divine or semi-divine mediators between gods and humans, much like Roman and Hellenistic rulers sought to portray themselves.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern social science and psychology have contributed insights into leadership and power dynamics that dovetail with Jesus' teaching.

For instance, research in servant leadership, a concept popularized in modern times by Robert K.

Greenleaf, asserts the effectiveness and ethical superiority of leaders who prioritize the welfare of their subordinates.

The principle of servant leadership is seen as leading to more collaborative, ethical, and productive organizations and is in line with the model Jesus presents in Luke 22:25.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various perspectives on Luke 22:25.

Many agree that Jesus is setting forth a new standard for leadership that contrasts with the political norms of the day.

The verse is seen as an essential part of Luke's portrayal of Jesus' message about the nature of the Kingdom of God.

Some commentators note that this teaching goes against the human inclination to seek power and status, emphasizing that the kingdom values are often in opposition to societal values.

Others focus on the usage of the term “benefactors,” reflecting on the irony of rulers who oppress while simultaneously being lauded as the people's champions.

Luke 22

Luke 22

What does Luke 22:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 22:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?