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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_20:24-28
24And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Mat_20:24 "And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers" They were angry because they did not ask first! But they also put on a show of anger as though they knew the question was out of place but secretly wanted to ask the same question.
Mat_20:26 "whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave" Jesus did not condemn their ambition for greatness, but defined its true parameters in light of one's commitment to Him. In Jesus' kingdom leadership is servanthood (cf. Mat_23:11; Mar_9:35; Mar_10:43)! Believers are saved to serve! Believers are saved from the service of sin to the service of God (cf. Romans 6)!
Mat_20:28 "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" Here is the practical truth of who is greatest (cf. Mar_10:45; Luk_19:10). Jesus knew that He came to (1) reveal the Father; (2) give mankind an example (i.e., selfless service) to follow; and (3) die a substitutionary death
▣ "and to give His life" There is a price to be paid for spiritual greatness and it is in service-even sometimes ultimate service, which is laying down your life for a friend (cf. Joh_15:13; 2Co_5:14-15; 1Jn_3:16).
▣ "a ransom" This term (lytron) found only twice in the NT, here and Mar_10:45, implied a price paid to purchase the freedom of a slave or prisoner of war. It is used in the LXX to translate koper (BDB 497 I), which denotes a life given to cover sin (i.e., Num_35:31-32). Jesus did something for believers that they could never have done for themselves. The price was paid to reconcile the justice of God and the love of God (cf. Isaiah 53; 2Co_5:21).
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▣ "for many" This is an allusion to Isa_53:11-12. The term "many" was not used in a restrictive sense of a special few, but the natural result of Christ's work. The rabbis and the Qumran community used the term "many" for the community of faith or the elect. By comparing Isa_53:6 c with Isa_53:11 d and Isa_53:12 e, we can see the central play between "all" and "many." This same play is used by Paul in Rom_5:17-19. Mat_20:18-19 are parallel, which means " all" and "many" are synonymous. This cannot be a proof-text for strict Calvinism! See discussion in NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 96-97.