Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 20:25-27

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:" — Matthew 20:25-27 (ASV)

But Jesus called them to him. That is, he called all the apostles to him and stated the principles on which they were to act.

He said, The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them (that is, over their subjects). He continued, You know that such honors are customary among nations. The kings of the earth raise their favorites to posts of trust and power. They give authority to some over others. But my kingdom is established in a different manner. There are to be no ranks, no places of dominion. All are to be on a level. The rich, the poor, the learned, the unlearned, the bond, the free, are to be equal. He will be the most distinguished who shows most humility, the deepest sense of his unworthiness, and the most earnest desire to promote the welfare of his brothers.

Gentiles. All who were not Jews—used here to denote the manner in which human governments are constituted.

Minister. A servant. The original word is deacon—a word meaning a servant of any kind, one especially who served at the table, and, in the New Testament, one who serves the church (Acts 6:1–4; 1 Timothy 3:8).

Preachers of the gospel are called ministers because they are the servants of God and the church (1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 6:4; Ephesians 4:12). This office, therefore, forbids them to lord it over God's heritage. It is the very opposite of a station of superiority and demands the very lowest degree of humility.