Serving, Not Striving: True Greatness in God's Kingdom

Good morning, everyone!

I want to look today at a fascinating contrast from Matthew chapters 19 and 20. It's about ambition, position, and what true greatness really looks like in God's kingdom.

The Disciples' Question: "What Shall We Have?"

We start in Matthew 19, where Jesus has just spoken about the difficulty a rich man faces in entering the kingdom of God. This conversation prompts Peter to think aloud about his own choices.

Matthew 19:27 "Then Peter answered and said to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?'"

It’s a very human question, isn't it? We make sacrifices, we work hard, and we wonder, what's in it for us? Jesus' answer is incredibly generous and awe-inspiring:

Matthew 19:28 "So Jesus said to them, 'Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'"

Imagine that! To go from simple fishermen to sitting on a throne, judging Israel. What an incredible promise! If I were one of those disciples, my mind would probably be racing with thoughts of glory and position.

But Jesus, with His perfect foresight, knew something important about their hearts, and about ours too. He immediately adds this profound statement:

Matthew 19:30 "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Why add that? Well, He knows what's coming, and what's in their hearts.

Striving for the Best Seat

It seems that the promise of twelve thrones wasn't enough to quell their ambition. They immediately started thinking about who would be the greatest among those twelve. And we see this play out dramatically in Matthew 20.

Matthew 20:20-21 "Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, 'What do you wish?' She said to Him, 'Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.'"

This overt request for prime positions caused quite a stir among the other disciples.

Matthew 20:24 "And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers."

Their displeasure wasn't just about the request; it was probably fueled by their own unspoken desires for those very same seats. This dissension gives Jesus another opportunity to teach them, and us, about true greatness.

Matthew 20:26-28 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

He uses that same language again: first and last. He points them directly to His own example: He, the Son of God, came to serve, not to be served. Our path to greatness, ironically, is through humility and service.

An Example of True Humility: The Blind Men

Right after this powerful lesson to His squabbling disciples, Jesus gives us a beautiful real-life illustration of the kind of heart that truly understands His kingdom. This comes from an unexpected place: a couple of blind men by the road.

Matthew 20:30 "And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, 'Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!'"

Jesus stops and asks them the very same question Peter implicitly asked, and the disciples explicitly lived out: "What do you want me to do for you?" Matthew 20:32.

Did these men ask for a throne? Did they ask to be the greatest in the kingdom? No. Their request was simple, heartfelt, and entirely focused on their desperate need:

Matthew 20:33 "They said to Him, 'Lord, that our eyes may be opened.'"

And what happens next is just wonderful:

Matthew 20:34 "So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him."

For them, it was enough to be healed and to follow Jesus. They didn't seek status or position; they sought mercy, healing, and the opportunity to follow. What a powerful contrast to the disciples vying for the best seats!

This is the kind of humble and thankful heart that Jesus values. It's an example for all of us, reminding us that true fulfillment and greatness in God's kingdom come not from striving for position, but from humbly receiving his grace and serving others, just as he served us.