12 Bible Verses about Rivalry

At length they enter'd into a debate, which of them should be the greatest. but Jesus perceiving what they thought, took a child and set him before him: then said to them, whoever receives such a child in my name, receives me: and he that receives me, receives him that sent me. for he that is least among you all, he shall be greatest.

At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, who is to be the greatest in the kingdom of the Messiah? and Jesus called a child to him, set him in the midst of them, and said, I declare to you, except ye lay aside your ambition, and become as children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of the Messias.read more.
he therefore who shall become as void of ambition as this child, he shall be greatest in the kingdom of the Messiah.

at which they were silent, for upon the road they had disputed about precedency. then sitting down, he address'd himself to the twelve, saying, he that would be the first, must be the last of all, and the servant of all. then taking a little child, he set him down before them; and embracing him in his arms, he said to them,read more.
whoever receives such a child as this upon my account, receives me; and he that receiveth me, does not so properly receive me, as the commands of him that sent me.

Then the mother of Zebedee's children, with her two sons, came and threw herself at his feet, desiring a favour of him. and he said to her, what would you have? grant, said she, when you are upon the throne, that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left. but Jesus answered them, ye know not what ye ask. can ye bear to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? they said to him, we can.read more.
he replied, ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, I cannot grant to any but those whom my father has destin'd thereto. upon hearing this, the other ten disciples were moved with indignation against the two brothers.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, and said, we desire you would grant us what we request. what, said he, would you have me do for you? they replied, when you are in your glory, grant that we may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on your left.read more.
but Jesus said to them, you know not what you ask. can you drink the cup, that I must drink, and be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized? and they said, we can. but Jesus replied, you shall indeed drink of the cup, that I must drink of, and be baptized with the baptism, with which I must be baptized; but to sit on my right hand, or on my left, is not in my power to grant, except to those for whom it was designed. but the other ten, when they heard this, were fill'd with indignation against James and John.

But don't you assume that title, for you have but one doctor, who is the Christ; as for you, you are all brethren alike. don't stile any one among you, Father upon earth; for he alone is your father, who is in heaven. neither take the title of masters, for you have but one master, who is the Messias.read more.
he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

for you are still subject to your passions. since envy, and strife, and divisions are among you, are you not actuated by the vices of the animal part? while one cries I am Paul's disciple, and another, I am Apollo's, are ye not vicious?

I mean that one or other of you cries out "I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ." is the school of Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

for you are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians. there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

So that Jesus called them to him, and said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and their great ones treat them in an imperious manner; but it shall not be so among young you: on the contrary, whoever would be great among you, he must be your servant; and whoever would be the chief, he must be the slave of all the rest.read more.
for the son of man himself is not come to receive the services of men, but to do them service, and to lay down his life a ransom for many.

but Jesus calling them to him, said, ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise arbitrary dominion over them, and they that are great exercise their authority. but it must not be so among you: on the contrary, whoever would rise among you, let him be your minister. and whoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant.read more.
as the son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for all.

it is true, there are some who preach Christ out of a spirit of envy and contention; but others do it out of pure affection. those preach the gospel of Christ, not in sincerity, but from a principle of contention, with a view to inflame the persecution against me: the others act from affection, as knowing that I suffer for having defended the gospel.read more.
is it not however some advantage? since in either way, whether it be occasionally, or professedly, Christ is preach'd; which is now, and always will be matter of joy to me.