Matthew 20: Servant Leadership

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"But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." -Matthew 20:25-28

Over and over again I feel like I am hitting upon the issue of authority in the Church.  Here again and in the preceding story of the Worker in the Vineyard  Jesus is clearly denouncing the idea of a hierarchy with the Church.  The authority of the church is supposed to be in contrast to worldly authority:

"But among you it will be different."

The operative leadership words here are servant and slave.  How many leaders do you know who model these qualities?  Inside the Church?  For me, it's very few.  Outside the Church?  Hardly any.


"Men prominent in the church should be the first to heed the admonition. Such priestly despotism as the absolute rule of the Catholic, Greek, and of some Protestant churches is at variance with this principle." -People's New Testament

I've witnessed some pretty uncorrectably leadership within the Church sadly.  I think part of this is our fault--we don't read our Bibles well enough to hold leadership accountable to the principles within.  The Biblical knowledge of so many Christians is so sparse that they become dependent upon their leaders to "feed" them with inspiring spiritual messages.  According to this, the main job of a leader within the Church is to serve, humbly.

Admittedly, the disciples and the Jews often remind me of myself---this desire for ordering and justice, for rankings and fairness.  In that sense, because God was NOT fair to us (He gave us grace when we deserved condemnation), it is our job to pass the mercy "buck," not to hoard it for ourselves, not to think that it is a deserved result of some work we have done.  It's all mercy.

The fairness streak in me (which I think is a good, God-given quality in the right proportions and with the right perspective) is grateful for this comment here on the 5pm workers:

"Because no man hath hired us. These persons were idle, because they had no opportunity to work. This point must not be lost sight of. There is no promise here for willful idleness." -The People's New Testament

This is a good point.  I find myself very frustrated with those who have been given privilege but squander it because they are lazy.  This case is different.  They did not work because of lack of opportunity not love of ease.

I like this point as well:

"Our duty in the vineyard is to go to work as soon as the Lord calls us, and to do what he tells us." -People's New Testatement

We are workers in the field, not judgers of the workers of the field.  It's significant.  The Lord calls us at different points.  The important thing is not how long we serve Him, but that we get busy about the serving as soon as we are called.  Anything else is beyond our realm.

James & John's mother saw the true lineup of Christ's earthly rule at this point:


"Ye know not what ye ask. An illustration, this of ignorant prayer. Within a month they saw the places on his right hand and left occupied by the two thieves in the crucifixion." -People's New Testament

Leadership in Christ's kingdom is not a head-swellling lavish title, but a call to suffering.