Matthew 20:25 - Exposition

Called them unto him. The two had stood apart when they made their request, but the ten had overheard it, or judged of its nature from Christ's answer and their own feelings. Jesus now gathers them all round him, and gives them a lesson which they all needed, first, concerning worldly greatness and pre-eminence, and secondly ( Matthew 20:26 ), concerning Christian greatness and pre-eminence. Ye know. He appeals to common experience. Exercise dominion over them; i . e . over the Gentiles. κατακυριευ ì ουσιν , lord it over— significant of an absolute and oppressive domination. Exercise authority upon them; i . e . over the Gentiles ( κατεξουσια ì ξουσιν ); use authority harshly and severely. The heathen, when they are raised to pre-eminence, employ their power cruelly and in order to gain their own ends and purposes, and aspire to superiority only with such objects in view. Such ambition is essentially a heathen passion, and wholly alien from the spirit of Christ.