Mar 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest... (+Chapter Summary)
Mar 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Alternative: And whoever of you desires to become the best will be everyone's slave.
This verse is the third of four verses (Mar 10:42-45) illustrating Christ's usually pattern of three plus one. However, it also no only echoes Mar 10:31, revealing the general theme of the chapter. Being a salve to others connects the major events here that initially seem disconnected.
- Starting with his discussion of marriage (Mar 10:3-12), Christ makes it clear that spouses are, in a very strict sense, slaves to each other.
- To receive the kingdom (Mar 10:14-15), we must be as accepting as a little child or, in another sense, as a slave.
- In his discussion about worldly riches (Mar 10:18-28), Christ illustrates that the choice is to be slaves to our possessions or slaves to God and others.
- In terms of our relationships (Mar 10:29-31), we are committed to a hundred times more people and a the last among them.
- In his accepting death (Mar 10:33-34), Christ accepts slavery to his divine purpose.
- In answering the request of James and John (Mar 10:36-45), he tells them that they, like him, must be slaves to their destiny, but as the slave of slaves, he hasn't the authority to promise them a special place.
- The chapter ends (Mar 10:51-52) by Christ granting a blind man his sight.
"Will" is from thelô (thelo), which means "to be willing," "to wish," "to ordain," "to decree," "to be resolved to a purpose" and "to desire."
"Be" is from gignomai (ginomai), which means "to become," "to come into being," "to be produced," and "to be."
"First" is from prôtos (protos). In place, this means "the foremost." Of time, it means "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "the highest" or "the best." This was the word used to mean "the first" in the parable of the landowner hiring workers.
"Shall it be" is from eimi (eimi), which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The future form is esomai, which is used here.)
"Servant" is from doulos (doulos), which is really a "slave," a "born bondsman," or "one made a slave."
"All" is from pas (pas), which means "all," "the whole," "every," "anyone," "all kinds," and "anything."
