The Dispute over Who Is Greatest (Luke 22:24–30)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

On the strife among the disciples (on Luke 22:25) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why the Lord names the Gentiles when He rebukes the striving after precedence:

He mentions the Gentiles, to show thereby how faulty it was. For it is of the Gentiles to seek after precedence.

On the Master who Himself has need of no one, yet takes a servant's place:

Think not that your disciple needs you, but that you do not need him. For I who need no one whom all things in heaven and earth need, have condescended to the degree of a servant.

On why the promise of the thrones is not made to all without distinction:

What then will Judas also sit there? ... Therefore speaking to His disciples He did not make a general promise, but added, You who have continued with me in my temptations.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon CXLIII (on Luke 22:24–30) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of the Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_13_sermons_135_145.htm

On the disciples' infirmity and the physician who cuts the passion away:

For the disciples had given way to a human infirmity, and were contending with one another, who of them is the chief, and superior to the rest ... For Christ immediately rebukes the malady, and like a vigorous physician cut away, by an earnest and deep-reaching commandment, the passion which had sprung up among them.

On the Lord of glory who becomes a minister, leaving us an example:

He therefore Who is ministered to became a minister; and the Lord of glory made Himself poor, "leaving us an example," as it is written.

On the reward of those who continue with Him, and why He speaks as one of us:

Observe, I pray, that He does not yet quit the limits of humanity, but for the present confines Himself within them, because He had not as yet endured the precious cross; for He speaks as one of us

St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379)

On humility and the ministering to many (on Luke 22:26) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the chief who must not be puffed up, for true humility is to minister:

Let not him that is chief be puffed up by his dignity, lest he fall away from the blessedness of humility, but let him know that true humility is the ministering to many.

On offering even bodily service, after the pattern of the Lord who washed the disciples' feet:

it is meet that those who are in the chief places should be ready to offer also bodily service, after our Lord's example, who washed His disciples' feet.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 22:27) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On how Christ showed Himself their servant at the supper:

He shows Himself to be their servant, when He distributes the bread and the cup, of which service He makes mention, reminding them that if they have eaten of the same bread, and drunk of the same cup, if Christ Himself served all, they ought all to think the same things.

On the kingdom whose table is not bodily food but the life of angels:

He said this not as if they would have there bodily food, or as if His kingdom were to be a sensible one. For their life then shall be the life of angels, as He before told the Sadducees.

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 22:24) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the disciples' contention set down not as excuse but as warning:

If the disciples did contend, it is not alleged as any excuse, but held out as a warning. Let us then beware lest any contentions among us for precedence be our ruin.

On the reward promised at His table, which is grace and not food:

For the reward promised to us is not food and drink, but the communication of heavenly grace and life.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Exposition on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 22:28) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why not the first effort but persevering endurance is crowned:

not the first effort of patience, but long-continued perseverance, is rewarded with the glory of the heavenly kingdom

On the judgment that great men still owe against the wickedness of offenders:

the great have need of no little judgment, that they do not indeed like the kings of the Gentiles delight to tyrannize over their subjects, and be puffed up with their praises