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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
28
Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In the end, He sets a standard through His own example, so that those who disregard His teachings might feel remorse for their inaction. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others. It is important to note, as we have frequently emphasized, that the one who serves is identified as the Son of Man. He came to offer His life as a redemption for many. When He assumed the role of a servant and poured out His blood for the sake of the world (Philippians 2:7), He did not state, \\"to give His life a ransom for all,\\" but rather for many, meaning those who are willing to embrace faith."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He continues by stating, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to offer His life as a redemption for many.\\" It is as if He implied that His mission extended beyond just serving; He gave His life as a substitute, and for whom did He do this? For adversaries. If you choose to humble yourself, do so for your own sake, while I humble myself for you. So, do not be afraid of losing your dignity through this act. No matter how much you lower yourself, you can never lower yourself as much as your Lord has humbled Himself. Yet, this very humiliation became an elevation for all and unveiled His splendor. Prior to His incarnation, He was known only to the angels; when He took on humanity and faced crucifixion, He did not lose His inherent glory but gained an additional glory, being acknowledged by the entire universe. Do not fear losing your dignity by embracing humility; through your humility, your glory will be elevated and expanded. It serves as the entrance to the kingdom. Why go through the opposite entrance? Why set ourselves against our own interests? If we strive to appear grand, we will actually find ourselves diminished. Notice how the Lord often uses examples that challenge their perspectives while still granting them what they desire. We have witnessed this repeatedly. This was evident in His dealings with those consumed by greed and with the vain. He asked, “Why do you perform acts of charity before others? Is it for the sake of recognition?” He advised them not to seek this acclaim, for if they refrain, they will truly enjoy it. He questioned them, “Why do you hoard treasures? Is it solely for personal gain?” He encouraged them to refrain from accumulating treasures, assuring them they would indeed become rich. This is His message here. Why do you aspire to be esteemed? Is it to be held in higher regard than others? Instead, seek the humble position, and in that humility, you will find true greatness; if you desire prominence, shun the pursuit of it, and you will become great. True greatness is born from humility."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"I do not make this assertion lightly; my life serves as evidence: I have acted more than I have verbalized. As the Sovereign of the highest realms, I chose to become human, embracing scorn and derision. Yet, even this humility was not sufficient for me, as I willingly faced death. Thus, He states, “As the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a deliverance for many.” It is as if He is saying that His service went beyond mere acts of help; He offered His life as a ransom for whom? For His adversaries. If you choose to humble yourself, do it for your own sake, for I humble Myself for you. Therefore, do not fear losing your dignity through acts of humility. No matter how much you lower yourself, you can never lower yourself as significantly as your Lord did. However, His act of humility led to the exaltation of many and revealed His splendor. Prior to becoming man, He was known only to the angels; upon taking on humanity and enduring crucifixion, He did not lessen His glory but instead gained a new form of glory recognized by all creation. Do not fear losing your reputation by being humble; through humility, your glory will be elevated and expanded. It is the pathway to the kingdom. Why choose a different path? Why wage war against your own spirit? If you seek to appear significant, you will not achieve greatness but will instead be dishonored by all. Notice how the Lord consistently seeks to influence His followers with examples that contradict their desires. We have witnessed this repeatedly. He addressed the greedy and those who chase after vanity, asking, “For what purpose do you give alms before men? Is it for applause? Do not act in this manner, and you will fully enjoy such glory.” He questions, “Why do you amass wealth? Is it to enrich yourself? Cease gathering treasures, and you will indeed find yourself enriched.” This is the essence of His teaching. He asks, “Why do you desire to be first? Is it to surpass others? Instead, take the lowest place, and you will achieve greatness. If you wish to be esteemed, do not strive for distinction; then, you will truly be esteemed. Humiliation is what paves the way for true greatness.\\n\\nIn another instance, He stated, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise authority over them, and their high officials exert power. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” It is evident that they sought to be the foremost, the greatest, and the leaders. Recognizing their intentions, He remarked, “Whoever wants to be first must be your servant.” He emphasizes that if you desire leadership and high regard, strive to occupy the last position, serving humbly, and placing yourself behind others. Such selflessness leads to the highest recognition, and the example is clear and powerful. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Through these acts, they are made radiant and distinguished; contemplate what was done for Me, the One who requires neither honor nor glory, yet through these actions, I gained immeasurable blessings. Prior to His incarnation and humility, all things faced destruction; but through His humility, He elevated all things, reversed the curse, conquered death, opened the gates of heaven, eliminated sin, and ushered us into the heavenly realms, filling the universe with godliness, dispelling falsehood, establishing truth, raising our lineage to kingship, and achieving countless good deeds that words cannot fully express. Before His humble state, only angels recognized Him; upon humbling Himself, all humanity came to know Him. Therefore, His humility did not diminish Him but rather produced immeasurable benefits and merits, amplifying His glory. If humility served such a purpose for God, who lacks nothing, bringing Him more followers and expanding His kingdom, why fear being humbled through humility? You will be exalted, esteemed, honored, and recognized when you place yourself beneath all, when you do not seek superiority, when you endure humiliation, suffering, and trials, and when you strive to serve and nurture many, willing to bear all burdens. Hence, dear ones, as we reflect on these truths, let us diligently pursue humility. In the face of insult, humiliation, and hardships, let us endure all with joy. Nothing is as conducive to achieving height, honor, and glory, nor does any virtue grant greatness, as does the practice of humility, which, by earnest effort, may lead us to the promised blessings through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, honor, and worship alongside the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"I demonstrate this through My own example: as the Sovereign and Ruler of Heaven, I chose to humble Myself in order to bring you salvation, to the extent that I willingly lay down My life for the liberation of many, for all are indeed numerous."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He presents Himself as a model, who not only serves everyone but also lays down His life for all. Let Him be the servant and bondservant of others, just as I did not enter the world to be served. Although individuals like Peter's mother-in-law and Martha, the sister of Lazarus, as well as others, tended to Him, it was not because He required their assistance. I did not come that anyone should serve Me, but rather that I might serve others, tending to and healing their souls and bodies, along with the souls and bodies of many others. What is even more significant than service and servitude is to give My life for the redemption of multitudes who have become captives to the enemy. The term \\"many\\" is used in place of \\"all\\" because Scripture frequently employs \\"many\\" instead of \\"all.\\" He offered His life for everyone and redeemed them, even though many remained entrapped by their own choices. To whom did He give His life? To His Father, for as He faced death, He exclaimed: \\"Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit\\" (Luke 23:46). But were we not slaves to the enemy and not to the Father? To address this conundrum, it must be recognized that a ransom is generally accepted by the one who has authority over the captives, thus releasing them from that power. The ransom offered by Jesus Christ is incomparably superior to any other, liberating captives; however, it was not accepted by the one who had dominion over them, for he could not accept such a ransom. Christ entrusted the ransom to the Father in the form of His soul; and since the ransom was given, even though it could not be accepted by the one in authority over the captives, the captives nonetheless found freedom. How did He give His life for the redemption of many? He willingly offered Himself to die for humanity’s salvation, and through His death, He triumphed over their adversary, who sought to eliminate the sinless One. Death is the consequence of sin, yet Christ alone was without sin. It is important to understand that the ransom paid for us is not merely the soul of Jesus Christ, but also His blood. Thus, what is mentioned regarding His soul equally pertains to His blood."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"What does Christ mean when He states, \\"The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many\\" (Matt. 20:28)? The answer is as follows: 1) Here, the Son of God refers to Himself as the Son of man, which reflects both His love for humanity and His humility. In His desire to identify with us, He is willingly called as we are. Throughout Scripture, He often emphasizes being known more as the Son of man than the Son of God. Observe the profound love and humility of the Son of God towards us! Praise be to Him who cherished us and lowered Himself for our benefit. 2) It is evident that He came in human form, taking on the role of a servant, and did not shy away from serving others. He told His followers, \\"I am among you as one who serves\\" (Luke 22:27). Thus, He did not hesitate to wash their feet (John 13:8). Beloved, consider how our Lord humiliated Himself for our salvation. The One whom great John felt unworthy to untie the strap of His sandal, the One whom the angels serve with reverence, chose to serve mankind, His servants, even going so far as to wash their feet. What a marvel! What a reflection of humility! The heavenly Father beheld this from above and found joy in it; His angels gazed upon it in wonder. We now perceive it through faith and honor His humility. 3) Our Lord exemplifies humility to us through His actions, saying, \\"Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart\\" (Matthew 9:29). He further asks, \\"Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have set an example for you, that you should do as I have done for you\\" (John 13:13-15). Let us contemplate this living example of humility and strive to emulate Him; let us gaze into this mirror and rid ourselves of our pride; may we not hesitate to serve others, whether they are leaders or the lowly, remembering that our Lord was not ashamed to serve His servants. Let us cherish this image in our hearts, so that we can expunge demonic pride from within. There is nothing greater than humility, and nothing more disgraceful than pride; humility elevates, while pride diminishes. By humility, individuals are lifted up, while by pride, they fall. Humility can convert sinners into the righteous, while pride can lead the righteous into sin. Humility earns God’s favor and gains the approval of people. Let us strive to learn humility, that God may look upon us with mercy. O Jesus, grant us a spirit of humility. 4) Remember, dear brother, the One who humbled Himself for humanity will return, but not in humility or servitude; rather, He will come in the glory of the Father, not to serve, but to judge. That day draws near, closer than it was yesterday; and as it approaches, He may come suddenly. Let us prepare ourselves, lest we be caught unprepared on that day. Take heed to save yourselves."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"To support this, the Lord serves as the ultimate example in His own person. The Son of Man comes not to fulfill a self-serving agenda; being divine, He approached humanity in the guise of a servant, fulfilling His mission (Phil. 2:6-7; cf. Rom. 15:3). He did not arrive in majesty or ostentation but as an ordinary man, and from the outset, He refrained from demanding that people serve Him as they would earthly kings and nobles. Instead, He served everyone, providing aid to those in need and offering His assistance, particularly in the realm of salvation through His teachings and miraculous works, culminating in His sacrificial death. \\n\\nTo \\"give his life\\" refers to His very existence (cf. Matt. 16:25). The phrase \\"for the redemption of many\\" points to the concept of redemption (λυ'τρον) as a ransom — a price historically paid to liberate captives in times of war, without which they would remain trapped and face ruin for their homeland. This imagery aptly illustrates the redemptive work of salvation brought forth by Jesus Christ. All humanity, by nature, finds itself enslaved to sin and to the devil, and consequently, is bound by guilt and condemnation (Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:9-23; Eph. 2:3; 1 Jn. 5:19). Without intervention, they would face destruction and eternal separation from God (Rom. 2:6-9; Mt. 25:46). However, the means of liberation, ordained by God, was the sacrificial death of the incarnate Son on the cross. He alone bore the sins of all, and God accepted this death as a ransom for humanity, thereby freeing people from sin's bondage, the curse, and death itself.\\n\\nThe term \\"many\\" indicates that while the Savior’s mission was to die for all, offering redemption for everyone (Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:6; 1 Jn. 2:2), not all will choose to believe or will be saved, owing to either weak faith or a lack of good deeds. Therefore, Scripture conveys the idea that the Savior died for many or redeemed many (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:28). \\n\\nThe distinction lies in the nature of His kingship: \\"With us it is not as with the Gentiles; the rulers of the nations exercise authority over them, but with Me, the last shall be first.\\" This statement is evidenced in His life. He has accomplished more than mere words can express. As the sovereign of higher powers, He humbled Himself to become a man and endure contempt; yet, His willingness went beyond mere service as He offered His very soul as a ransom, even for His adversaries. \\n\\nIf you choose to humble yourself, know that I also humiliated Myself for you. Thus, do not be afraid of losing your honor through humility. For no matter how lowly you humble yourself, you cannot approach the depths of humility demonstrated by your Lord. This act of self-humiliation has become exaltation for all, revealing His glory. Therefore, do not fear losing your honor; through humility, your glory will be elevated and magnified—it is indeed the gateway to the kingdom."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Son of Man arrived not to receive service but to extend it, enabling others to be served. Though He is divine, He chose to approach humanity in the guise of a servant, eschewing grandeur and splendor for the simplicity of humanity. Unlike earthly rulers who demand tribute, He serves everyone, offers His grace to all, and assists those who seek His aid. His service is most profoundly evident in His mission of salvation, which He accomplished through His teachings, miracles, and especially through His sacrificial death. He came to offer His life as a ransom for the many, to redeem humankind. St. John Chrysostom expressed this beautifully: “Being the King of the Highest Powers, I wanted to be a Man and to be scorned and despised; I gave My soul as a ransom, and for whom? For enemies. If you humble yourself, you do so for your own benefit, but I humble Myself for you. Thus, do not be afraid of losing your honor in this act. No matter how much you humble yourself, you cannot lower yourself as much as your Master has humbled Himself. Yet, this humiliation for Him has led to exaltation for all and has unveiled His glory. Therefore, do not fear losing your honor through humility; it is the gateway to the kingdom.” All humanity finds itself in bondage to sin, under the condemnation of God’s eternal justice, and thus deserving of eternal death. However, God’s love, in its wisdom, devised a way to deliver them—a means to liberate those held captive by divine truth, to remove the curse upon them, and to save them from everlasting ruin. This means was the death of the incarnate Son of God on the cross. He alone gave Himself for all sinners, and this offering was accepted by divine truth as a ransom for everyone. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, humanity was redeemed from eternal death. While the Savior died for all, not everyone believes in Him as their Redeemer, and not all who believe live out their faith; hence, not all will attain salvation. This is why the Lord clarified His mission, stating, “I came to give my life for many,” rather than for all."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"To wrap up the discourse between Jesus and His disciples, we must reflect on His declaration: The Son of Man... came... to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The Greek term lutron, which translates to atonement, refers to a ransom—the price that was traditionally exchanged to liberate captives taken in warfare. When the ransom was paid, the captives were freed; however, failure to pay meant they remained enslaved to their conquerors, effectively severing their ties to their homeland. Jesus articulates His salvific mission for humanity as a ransom, as all people are sinners, caught in the bondage of sin. They are imprisoned by sin, facing the threat of condemnation and eternal torment. Through His teachings, the example of His life, His suffering, and His sacrificial death, Christ illuminated the path to liberation for those yearning for freedom, offering redemption to those who sought it. So why is it stated that the ransom applies to many rather than all? This is because deliverance from captivity is extended only to those who seek it, namely those who heed Christ’s commandments; many do seek it and fulfill God's will, but not everyone. Thus, it is articulated that the ransom is for the redemption of many, not all."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The travelers then crossed the Jordan River and entered the beautiful plain of Jericho, one of the most splendid regions in Palestine. With its gentle climate, this area supports a variety of lush tropical vegetation. The renowned fig groves here were celebrated for their abundant yields, while the balsam plants not only filled the air with their delightful aroma but were also known for their healing properties. The land produced two harvests of maize, and wheat matured a month earlier than it did in Galilee. Numerous bees thrived on the rich pollen found in the aromatic shrubs and flowers, some of which were unique to this region, adding to its enchanting appeal. The plain gradually ascends from the deep valley of the Jordan, located significantly below the Mediterranean Sea's level to the west. Approximately twelve miles from the river, at an altitude of seven hundred feet, lay the renowned city that first fell to the Israelites upon their arrival in the Promised Land. Having experienced many changes throughout its history, Jericho now stood defiantly above the surrounding landscape, shining in the sunlight with the splendor of its fortifications and palaces built by Herod the Great, despite the curse that Joshua had pronounced upon it."}]}
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