“Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great,” Luke 9:46-48.
This reasoning as to who would be greatest amongst the apostles was one born of the sinful heart of man. Even we believers today are subject to such carnal thoughts as those that then prompted the discussion amongst the apostles as they followed the Lord to Capernaum.
We should note that they not merely ‘reasoned’ which of them would be the ‘greatest’ (the highest, the most important) in the kingdom of heaven. But the subject was a matter of dispute as Mark tells us, (Mark 9:33).
They were giving most serious thought to this subject.
The word translated ‘reasoning’ or ‘disputed’ first appears in Mark 2:6 and refers to the ‘reasoning’ within the hearts of certain scribes who were bothered by the Saviour’s claim to forgive sins.
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?” Mark 2:5-8.
Church disputes
There likely have been more divisions and disagreements within the assemblies of God’s people about this matter than any other! Self-importance and the perceived failure of others to see our ‘importance’ has been at the heart of many a conflict among Christians.
John the Apostle encountered this desire for ‘preeminence’! (more…)
