For the evening before Jesus die, e tell e apostles say make they no find big position among theirself. E talk say: “Kings of the nations de control people anyhow, and them de call the people wey get authority over them Benefactors. But, make wuna no be like that.” (Benefactor na person wey e de do good for people for e community.)​—Luke 22:25, 26.

Which people be the Benefactors wey Jesus mean? Coins, things wey they carve, and things wey they write show say, na Roman and Greek people their culture to de honor rich people and rulers. The title wey them de call them na Euergetes or Benefactor. Them de give them that honor because of the good things wey they don do for community.

They give many kings this title. Some of this kings rule Egypt, and their name na Ptolemy III Euergetes (c. 247-222 B.C.E.) and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (c. 147-117 B.C.E.). Some rule Rome and their name na Julius Caesar (48-44 B.C.E.) and Augustus (31 B.C.E.–14 C.E.). Herod the great wey be king of Judea, still answer this title. And e fit be say na because e import wheat for the people when hunger dey for the area. And e give poor people cloth to help them.

One German Bible scholar wey e name na Adolf Deissmann talk say this title wey they give them dey popular well-well that time. E still talk say: “E no hard to see-am from things wey they carve. For just short time, you fit see this title for more than hundred place.”

So, wetin Jesus mean when e tell e disciple say: “But, make wuna no be like that”? Jesus de tell them make they no de do good for people? No! Wetin Jesus de talk about na the reason why them de open hand and do good.

For Jesus time, rich people de do good so that they go get big name. Them de sponsor people, games, build parks, temple, and other things, so that they go dey popular, win vote and get praise. One research work talk say: ‘This people na correct example of people wey them de open hand do good. But, them de do-am because of the gain wey them go get for politics.’ Na this kind character to want get personal gain and big position Jesus warn e followers make they no get.

Some years after, apostle Paul warn the brothers for Corinth say make they no ever do good because of the gain wey they go get. E write say: “Make each person do just as e decide for e heart, make e no vex or do-am by force, because God love person wey e de glad as e de give.”​—2 Cor. 9:7.