Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 20:27

"and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:" — Matthew 20:27 (ASV)

Whosoever will be chief —Better, first, as continuing the thought of Matthew 20:16. The “servant” (better, slave) implies a lower and more menial service than that of the “minister” in the preceding verse, just as “chief” or “first” involves a higher position than the “greatness” spoken of there. We introduce a false antithesis if we assign the “service” to this life and the “greatness” as its reward to the life after death. The true teaching of the words is that the greatness is the service.