Attention should be given to the need of introducing a new sentence here, although Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, as well as most other English translations, follow the pattern of the Greek sentence structure by continuing the same sentence through verse 27. This verse forms a parallel to what was said in the previous verse; here first substitutes for “great,” and slave substitutes for “servant.” Thus first can be translated as “most important” or “highest rank.”

Your slave (as opposed to “slave of all” in Mark 10.44) refers to lowly service within the Christian community and represents a uniquely Matthean concern. Once again Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch very effectively shifts to a verb construction: “must subordinate himself to all.” It can also be expressed as “take the very lowest position” or “be the one who serves all.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .