The translation of the Gospels indicates that various individuals “worshiped” Jesus, but is this true? The word that is used in the Greek is “proskyneō” ( προσκυνέω ). While this verse is often translated as “worship,” we see that a more accurate translation is to pay homage.
In Matthew 18:26, Jesus gives the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. In this parable, the servant falls on his knees before the king as an act of homage, seeking mercy, and not an act of worship.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.'” – Matthew 18:26
To “pay homage” means to show respect, honor, or reverence to someone or something. This act can take various forms depending on the context and the relationship between the one paying homage and the one receiving it. Physical acts of homage often include bowing or kneeling, common gestures indicating submission, respect, or worship. In some contexts, it may involve prostration, where one lies flat on the ground, face down, to show deep reverence.
In regards to a king, “pay homage” means to demonstrate respect and loyalty towards the monarch. This practice has historical roots in feudal systems where subjects, particularly vassals and nobles, would perform specific acts to show their allegiance to their sovereign. Acts of homage often included physical gestures such as bowing deeply or kneeling before the king to signify submission and respect.
The concept of the Messiah as the King of the Jews is a central theme in Jewish and Christian theology, rooted in the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible. According to these prophecies, the Messiah would be a divinely anointed leader from the lineage of King David, who would establish God’s kingdom on earth, bringing justice, peace, and righteousness. This future king would restore Israel, gather the exiles, and reign with wisdom and fairness, reflecting God’s perfect governance. In Christianity, Jesus Christ is believed to fulfill these Messianic prophecies, as he is seen as the eternal King who inaugurates a spiritual kingdom transcending earthly politics. His role as the Messiah is not only to rule but also to redeem humanity, offering salvation and establishing a new covenant between God and his people. This dual aspect of kingship and savior is fundamental to understanding the Messianic expectation and its fulfillment in the Christian faith.
Therefore, the individuals who accepted Jesus as the Messiah believed that Jesus was their king. If Jesus were their king, they would show their belief by paying homage to him. This does not mean that they worshiped him, but only that they acknowledged his status in this world while he was alive.
If we look at every example in the New Testament of the word “proskyneō” ( προσκυνέω ) in its various forms, we can see that we can understand this verse more accurately under the precepts of homage and not worship.
For example, in Matthew 2, the Magi went in search for the King of the Jews. It does not make sense that they would worship him, but it does make sense that they would pay him homage if they believed him to be king.
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to pay homage to him.” – Matthew 2
Similarly, when Herod heard of the birth of the Messiah, he, too, claimed he wanted to “pay homage” to him. If he claimed the child to be the Messiah, that would mean that he would be Herod’s king, and it would not make sense that a Jew would want to “worship” him.
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and pay homage him.” – Matthew 2
The test for the people of Jesus was whether they accepted him as the Messiah. The test was never if they thought Jesus was God. Jesus never claimed to be God, nor was that ever accused of him, but only if he was the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of the Jews.
Further Reading:
Appendix:
| Verse w/ “proskyneō” ( προσκυνέω ) | Context |
| Matthew 2:2 | The Visit of the Magi |
| Matthew 2:8 | Herod’s instruction to the Magi |
| Matthew 2:11 | The Visit of the Magi |
| Matthew 4:9-10 | The Temptation of Jesus |
| Matthew 8:2 | A Man with Leprosy |
| Matthew 9:18 | A Synagogue Leader |
| Matthew 14:33 | Jesus Walks on Water |
| Matthew 15:25 | The Canaanite Woman |
| Matthew 18:26 | The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant |
| Matthew 20:20 | The Mother of James and John |
| Matthew 28:9 | After the Resurrection |
| Matthew 28:17 | The Great Commission |
| Mark 5:6 | The Gerasene Demoniac |
| Mark 15:19 | Mocking Jesus |
| Luke 4:7-8 | The Temptation of Jesus |
| Luke 24:52 | After the Ascension |
| John 4:20-24 | Worship in Spirit and Truth (5 times) |
| John 9:38 | The Man Born Blind |
| John 12:20 | Greeks Seeking Jesus |
| Acts 7:43 | Stephen’s Speech |
| Acts 8:27 | The Ethiopian Eunuch |
| 1 Corinthians 14:25 | Orderly Worship |
| Hebrews 1:6 | The Superiority of the Son |
| Revelation 3:9 | The Church in Philadelphia |
| Revelation 4:10 | Worship in Heaven |
| Revelation 5:14 | Worship of the Lamb |
| Revelation 7:11 | Worship of God |
| Revelation 11:1 | The Two Witnesses |
| Revelation 11:16 | The Seventh Trumpet |
| Revelation 13:4 | The Beast from the Sea |
| Revelation 13:8 | The Beast from the Sea |
| Revelation 13:12 | The Beast from the Earth |
| Revelation 13:15 | The Beast from the Earth |
| Revelation 14:7 | The Three Angels |
| Revelation 14:9 | The Three Angels |
| Revelation 14:11 | The Three Angels |
| Revelation 15:4 | The Song of Moses and the Lamb |
| Revelation 16:2 | The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath |
| Revelation 19:4 | Praise to God |
| Revelation 19:10 | The Angel’s Warning |
| Revelation 19:20 | The Beast and False Prophet Defeated |
| Revelation 20:4 | The Thousand Years |
| Revelation 22:8-9 | John’s Vision of the New Jerusalem |
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