It seems that Peter’s position as the ranking disciple was beginning to solidify—at least in his mind. Earlier, the question had been “Doesn’t Jesus pay the Temple tax”—for the group? Peter assumed he could speak for the group. The implication in the question is that payment had earlier been rejected. Who would have done so and why would Peter then counter whatever had apparently been said? This passage deals with the competition for position within the Twelve that later flared into open discord. In this case, Peter’s disagreement may have been with Judas. After all, he was the treasurer and such decisions should have been his.

John was too young—perhaps just over twelve—to be a competitor for power, but James had significant influence in the group. (For John to have written the Revelation in the mid-nineties of the First Century, he needed to be much younger than the others. If he were a young “tag-along” boy who went with his big brother, James, he would have still been in his seventies when he wrote the Bible’s last book. His youth also explains his being the “one Jesus loved” without it seeming to cause any jealousy.)

Whoever and how many were involved, there was some contention as to who could direct whom. Thus, Jesus stresses that greatness comes through service rather than position of power. Further, nothing that causes self or others to sin can be tolerated. If these primary figures weren’t involved, lesser-known disciples were competing for the lesser places of power. This would be a reoccurring competition. Like us, they were slow learners.