Matthew 20:27

20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave ¹  –

Matthew 20:26

20:26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,

Matthew 16:25

16:25 For whoever wants to save his life ²  will lose it, ³  but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

[20:27]  ¹ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[16:25]  ² tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 25-26).

[16:25]  ³ sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.