I CONFER ON YOU A KINGDOM

Passage: Luke 22:24-30

Key verse: 27c-29

NIV

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.(A) 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,(B) and the one who rules like the one who serves.(C) 27 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.(D) 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom,(E) just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom(F) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(G)

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ESV

Who Is the Greatest?

24 (A)A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 (B)And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles (C)exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 (D)But not so with you. Rather, let (E)the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, (F)one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But (G)I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have stayed with me (H)in my trials, 29 and (I)I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 (J)that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and (K)sit on thrones judging (L)the twelve tribes of Israel.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Worldly kings (24-27)

The disciples' standard for greatness was Caesar. They thought that the one who bossed everyone around was the greatest, and those who served were nobodies. So, no one wanted to serve. But Caesar is not the standard for greatness--Jesus is. All power in heaven and on earth was his, but he used his power to serve the weak and sick and helpless. He teaches us that we should seek to serve others, not seek to rule them.

2. Jesus promises his kingdom (28-30)

Jesus' disciples didn't need to envy worldly rulers. He conferred on them a kingdom. The Twelve are the patriarchs of the new Israel. They sit with Jesus in the heavenly kingdom and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus promised all his disciples that they would reign with him (2Ti 2:12). Our hope is in the kingdom of God, not in the kingdoms of men.

Prayer: Lord, give me the mind of Jesus, who lived among men as one who serves. Help me to put my hope in your kingdom.

One Word: Jesus confers on us a kingdom