12 Bible Verses about Rivalry

A discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest; And Jesus, knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him, And then said to them: "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all--that man is great."

On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: "Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said: "I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all.read more.
Therefore, any one who will humble himself like this child-- that man shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said: "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all." Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of them. Folding it in his arms, he said to them:read more.
"Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and any one who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his Messenger."

Then the mother of Zebediah's sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor. "What is it that you want?" he asked. "I want you to say," she replied, "that in your Kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left." "You do not know what you are asking," was Jesus' answer. "Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?" "Yes," they exclaimed, "we can."read more.
"You shall indeed drink my cup," he said, "but as to a seat at my right and at my left--that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers.

James and John, the two sons of Zebediah, went to Jesus, and said: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Grant us this," they answered, "to sit, one on your right, and the other on your left, when you come in glory."read more.
"You do not know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup that I am to drink? or receive the baptism that I am to receive?" "Yes," they answered, "we can." "You shall indeed drink the cup that I am to drink," Jesus said, "and receive the baptism that I am to receive, But as to a seat at my right or at my left--that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." On hearing of this, the ten others were at first very indignant about James and John.

But do not allow yourselves to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Father, the heavenly Father. And do not call any one Father, the heavenly Father. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called 'Leaders,' for you have only one Leader, the Christ.read more.
The man who would be the greatest among you must be your servant.

While there exist among you jealousy and party feeling, is it not true that you are worldly, and are acting merely as other men do? When one says 'I follow Paul,' and another 'I follow Apollos,' are not you like other men?

I mean this, that every one of you says either 'I follow Paul,' or 'I Apollos,' or 'I Kephas,' or 'I Christ.' You have rent the Christ in pieces! Was it Paul who was crucified for you? or were you baptized into the Faith of Paul?

For you are all Sons of God, through your faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into union with Christ clothed yourselves with Christ. All distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and freeman, male and female, have vanished; for in union with Christ Jesus you are all one.

But Jesus called the ten to him, and said: "Those who are regarded as ruling among the Gentiles lord it over them, as you know, and their great men oppress them. But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, And whoever wants to take the first place among you must be the servant of all;read more.
For even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said: "The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their great men oppress them. Among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave;read more.
Just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of Jealousy and opposition; but there are others who proclaim him from good- will. The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News. The former spread the news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, thinking to add to the pain of my chains.read more.
But what of that? Only that in some way or other, either with assumed or with real earnestness, Christ is being made known; and at that I rejoice.