Mark 9:34

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. From we should infer that the subject was introduced, not by our Lord, but by the disciples themselves, who came and asked Jesus who should be greatest. Perhaps one or two of them first referred the matter to Jesus who put them off until they should all be assembled together at Capernaum. He had all the while "perceived the thought of their heart" (); but now that they were all together "in the house," He questions them about it, and they are put to the blush, conscious of the temper toward each other which it had kindled. This raised the whole question afresh, and at this point our Evangelist takes it up. The subject was suggested by the recent announcement of the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19), the transfiguration of their Master, and especially the preference given to three of them at that scene.