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Mat_20:25 ff. Those ambitious desires which prompted the request of the sons of Zebedee have likewise a good deal to do with the displeasure of the other disciples. Accordingly, Jesus endeavours to check their ambition by insisting on the humble spirit of the servant as the way to true greatness in the ranks of His followers.
οἱ ἄρχοντες τῶν ἐθν .] the heathen rulers.
κατακυρ .] the intensive force of the compound verb serves to convey the idea of oppressive rule. Comp. Diod. Sic. xiv. 64, and the Sept. passim; see Schleusner; 1Pe_5:3; Act_19:16. Similarly with regard to the κατεξους ., which occurs nowhere else, and which may be rendered: they practise violence toward.
αὐτῶν ] refers in both instances to τ . ἐθνῶν .
οἱ μεγάλοι ] the magnates (Hom. Od. xviii. 382, comp. μεγιστᾶνες , Mar_6:21), “ipsis saepe dominis imperiosiores,” Bengel.
οὐχ οὕτως ἐστιν ἐν ὑμῖν ] it is not so among you. Observe the present (see critical notes); there is no such order of things among you.
μέγας ] great, not equivalent to μέγιστος , but in the sense of: to occupy a high and distinguished place among you. In the sphere to which you belong, true greatness lies in doing service; that is the principle on which you will act. Hence the future ἔσται ; for, in the event of any one wishing to become great, he will aim at it by means of serving; the latter is the way to the former.
πρῶτος ] one of the first in point of rank, a sort of climax to μέγας , as διάκονος is to δοῦλος . The emphasis in the consequent clauses rests on those two predicates, and hence the emphatic word is placed in each case at the close.