Mark 9:34

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who [should be] the greatest.

But {G1161} they held their peace {G4623}: for {G1063} by {G1722} the way {G3598} they had disputed {G1256} among {G4314} themselves {G240}, who {G5101} should be the greatest {G3187}.

But they kept quiet; because on the way, they had been arguing with each other about who was the greatest.

But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest.

Commentary

Mark 9:34 reveals a stark contrast between Jesus' mission and His disciples' understanding. After Jesus had just predicted His suffering and resurrection for the second time (Mark 9:31), the disciples were preoccupied with their own status and ambition.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' solemn prophecy about His impending death and resurrection. The disciples, despite being told plainly, seemed unable or unwilling to grasp the spiritual reality of His redemptive sacrifice. Instead, their minds were focused on earthly power and position within what they assumed would be a worldly kingdom. As they walked "by the way" (on the road), likely heading towards Capernaum, they engaged in a private argument about who among them held the highest rank or would be the most prominent in Jesus' future reign. Their silence when Jesus later questioned them in the house (Mark 9:33) indicates their awareness that their discussion was inappropriate and contrary to His teachings.

Key Themes

  • Human Ambition vs. Divine Humility: The core tension lies between the disciples' natural human desire for greatness and Jesus' consistent teaching on the necessity of humility and service. This passage highlights how easily even those closest to Christ can be sidetracked by worldly aspirations.
  • Misunderstanding of Messiahship: The disciples still largely held a political view of the Messiah, expecting a conquering king who would establish an earthly kingdom and elevate His followers. They struggled to comprehend a suffering servant, a concept beautifully illustrated in passages like Isaiah 53.
  • Silence Born of Shame: Their refusal to answer Jesus' direct question in Mark 9:33, followed by their silence in verse 34, suggests a sense of guilt or embarrassment. They knew their dispute was out of alignment with the spirit of Christ's teachings.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "disputed" is dialogizomai (διαλογίζομαι), which means "to reason, discuss, or argue." It can imply an internal debate or outward contention. Here, it clearly points to an active argument among them. The term "greatest" comes from megistos (μέγιστος), the superlative form of megas (μέγας), meaning "big" or "great." It literally refers to the biggest, most important, or highest in rank, emphasizing their focus on worldly status and hierarchy.

Practical Application

Mark 9:34 serves as a timeless reminder for all believers. It challenges us to examine our own hearts:

  • Examine Our Motives: Do we seek recognition, power, or influence within the church or our personal lives, or are we truly striving for humble service? True Christian leadership, as Jesus teaches in Mark 10:43-45, is about serving others, not being served.
  • Embrace Humility: The kingdom of God operates on principles opposite to the world's. Greatness in God's eyes is found in humility, self-sacrifice, and putting others first, as Jesus demonstrates by taking on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-8).
  • Listen to Difficult Truths: The disciples missed the profound truth of Jesus' suffering because they were distracted by their own desires. We too must be careful not to let our ambitions or preconceived notions prevent us from truly hearing and embracing God's Word, especially when it challenges our comfort zones.

This verse sets the stage for Jesus' powerful teaching on true greatness, where He calls a child forward and teaches that the greatest in the kingdom will be those who receive others in His name (Mark 9:35-37).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 3 John 1:9

    ¶ I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

  • Luke 22:24

    And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

  • Luke 22:30

    That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

  • Mark 9:50

    Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

  • Philippians 2:3

    [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

  • Philippians 2:7

    But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

  • Matthew 20:21

    And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
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