Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 20:26

"Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;" — Matthew 20:26 (ASV)

Whosoever will be great —Better, whoever wishes to be great. The person who is conscious of the promptings of ambition, as the disciples were, is to satisfy and purify them simultaneously by finding greatness in active service. This is not because that service leads to the kind of greatness natural ambition seeks, but because service is, in itself, the truest and highest greatness.