# Matthew 20.28 **Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 26. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; 27. and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant: > > **28. even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.** > > 29. And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30. And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David. (Matthew 20:26-30, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 26. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, > > **28. even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”** > > 29. As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30. Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” (Matthew 20:26-30, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 26. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: > > **28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.** > > 29. And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. (Matthew 20:26-30, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 26. but not so shall it be among you, but whoever may will among you to become great, let him be your ministrant; 27. and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant; > > **28. even as the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.'** > > 29. And they going forth from Jericho, there followed him a great multitude, 30. and lo, two blind men sitting by the way, having heard that Jesus doth pass by, cried, saying, 'Deal kindly with us, sir, Son of David.' (Matthew 20:26-30, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching - **Audience:** Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis) - **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition) - **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80 ## Theological reading ## Key words - [G3083 - lytron](/codex/g3083-lytron/), *lytron* (Strong's G3083). Also appears in: [Mark 10.45](/codex/mark-10-45/). - [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), *huios* (Strong's G5207). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.20](/codex/matthew-1-20/), [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/). - [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), *psyche* (Strong's G5590). Also appears in: [Matthew 6.25-26](/codex/matthew-6-25-26/), [Matthew 10.28](/codex/matthew-10-28/), [Matthew 10.37-39](/codex/matthew-10-37-39/). ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Harm-Reduction Cannot Ground Morality (Defeater)](/codex/harm-reduction-cannot-ground-morality-defeater/), via [Matthew 20.26-28](/codex/matthew-20-26-28/) - [Isaiah 14 Reverse Slavery Prophecy Objection Defeater](/codex/isaiah-14-reverse-slavery-prophecy-objection-defeater/), via [Matthew 20.25-28](/codex/matthew-20-25-28/) **Concepts:** - [Atonement Theory Spread](/codex/atonement-theory-spread/), via [Matthew 20.25-28](/codex/matthew-20-25-28/) - [Black People Shouldnt Be Christian](/codex/black-people-shouldnt-be-christian/), via [Matthew 20.25-28](/codex/matthew-20-25-28/) - [Christianity in Africa](/codex/christianity-in-africa/), via [Matthew 20.25-28](/codex/matthew-20-25-28/) - [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 20.18-28](/codex/matthew-20-18-28/) - [Papal Bulls and Slavery](/codex/papal-bulls-and-slavery/), via [Matthew 20.25-28](/codex/matthew-20-25-28/) **People:** - [James the Greater](/codex/james-the-greater/), via [Matthew 20.20-28](/codex/matthew-20-20-28/) **Lexicon:** - [G3083 - lytron](/codex/g3083-lytron/) - [H5650 - ebed](/codex/h5650-ebed/), via [Matthew 20.26-28](/codex/matthew-20-26-28/) **Passages:** - [Matthew 19.16-17](/codex/matthew-19-16-17/) - [Matthew 26.28](/codex/matthew-26-28/)