But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child
in my name receives me,
in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me
receives him who sent me;
receives him who sent me;
for he who is least among you all
is the one who is great."
is the one who is great."
John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you." -- Luke 9: 46 - 50
Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, "What do you want?"
She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them,
"You will drink my cup,
but to sit at my right hand and at my left
is not mine to grant,
but it is for those for whom
it has been prepared by my Father."
And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but
Whoever would be great among you
must be your servant
and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." -- Matthew 20:20-28
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat' (Matthew 20:8-12).
But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you (Matthew 20:13-14).
"Am I not allowed to do what I choose
with what belongs to me?
Or do you begrudge my generosity?"
Matthew 20:15
So the last will be first, and the first last (Matthew 20:16).
