{A reasoning} (dialogismos). A dispute. The word is from
dialogizomai, the verb used in Mr 9:33 about this incident.
In Luke this dispute follows immediately after the words of Jesus
about his death. They were afraid to ask Jesus about that
subject, but Mt 18:1 states that they came to Jesus to settle
it. {Which of them should be greatest} ( o tis an ei(8820)meiz(936e)
aut(936e)). Note the article with the indirect question, the clause
being in the accusative of general reference. The optative with
an is here because it was so in the direct question (potential
optative with an retained in the indirect). But Luke makes it
plain that it was not an abstract problem about greatness in the
kingdom of heaven as they put it to Jesus ( Mt 18:1 ), but a
personal problem in their own group. Rivalries and jealousies had
already come and now sharp words. By and by James and John will
be bold enough to ask for the first places for themselves in this
political kingdom which they expect ( Mr 10:35 Mt 20:20 ). It is
a sad spectacle.
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