A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:24-30
Passover was an important time for the Jewish nation. It was a time to remember how God delivered the nation from captivity. It was a time to remember how the Lord protected the nation from the death angel when the blood was placed on the doorposts of their homes. Along with God’s instruction to apply the Passover lamb’s blood to their door-posts and lintels, God instituted a commemorative meal: fire-
roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8).
The Israelites were told to “observe this rite as a statute for you
and for your sons forever” (Exodus 12:24, ESV). Even when in a
foreign land they were to remember and observe this feast. So
the disciples gather together to commemorate it with the Lord. It is
a time to give real thanks to God for His great compassion to them.
During this time when the disciples should be praising God a conflict breaks out between all the disciples. It is an issue that they have struggled with before. James and John had come to the Lord asking to sit on His right and left hand. Even though the Lord could not honor
their request (that honor was God’s to grant) the other discipled were infuriated that these two disciples had tried an “end run” on them by seeking the best positions for them-selves.
Now at Passover this same issue raises his head again. Was it because of the seating arrangements around the table? All we know is that Scripture says all the disciples argued.
Dispute The word implies a spirit of contentiousness; a disposition towards strife and rivalry. It indicates one who seeks to win arguments or disputes, often at the expense of harmony and unity. In other words the disciples are in a heated argument the night before the Lord will die. Since Scripture indicates all the disciples were involved we know that Peter is in the midst of this disagreement. What grief this must have brought to the Lord’s heart.
What can we learn? When we read of this dispute at the Passover meal we are reminded that God looks at our hearts when we come to worship Him. This was the case in the book of Malachi where God chastises His nation for the way they approach Him in worship. Worship of the Lord is to flow from holy hearts. God speaks in Malachi of the kind of hearts the disciples were showing to His Son on that night. “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar.” One can be in the right place to worship God with a heart that is sinful and full of pride. The Lord reminds His disciples that they have endured with Him but they are not following His example for to do so is to serve others. When we wa;l in the flesh it impacts our love and worship of God and our our love and fellowship with others. Mot only jay. it diverts our minds from discerning and focusing on what is really important. Peter’s actions on this night will be ones he regrets for a long time.