20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her
sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do
you wish?” She said to Him,
“Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the
other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You
do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to
drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will
indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is
for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly
displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but
whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you,
let him be your slave—28 just
as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life
a ransom for many.”
How much time passed from the Lords declaration of His up coming Crucifixion death then Resurrection from dead and the mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John) before she came to the Lord Jesus with her request is not known. And though her approach to Lord shows humility, her request only shows that both she and her sons focus was not on what the Lord was about to accomplish (not only for them but for all who believe in Him) but only what they could gain for themselves in His Kingdom. Therefore, her request that her two sons could sit on the Lord Jesus Christ’s right and left hand in His Kingdom (thus elevating them far above the rest of twelve whom the Lord Jesus had already promised would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel in His Kingdom, see Matt. 19:28) reveals how messed up a person’s focus can get when selfish ambitions and desires are harbored and pursued.
Vs. 22-23 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
Now in responding to her request the Lord
Jesus now says to her sons: “You do
not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink,
and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” To which Zebedee’s sons hastily respond saying, “We
are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will
indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is
for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” Now in saying that they too would drink
the Lord Jesus Christ’s cup means that they too would suffer for their faith in
Him (consider Mark 14:36). And that they would be baptized with the baptism
that He is baptized with means that they too would be partakers of God’s Holy
Spirit (Matt. 3:16; John 7:37-39). However, as the Lord Jesus tells them here, “… but to
sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those
for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
Therefore, those places of honor are not things that anyone should set their focus on, because it is the God the Fathers prerogative to give them to those whom it is prepared for by Him. Again, the Lord Jesus Christ already had promised the twelve great positions of privilege and honor in His Kingdom. And so, known only too God, there is still many other places and privileges that will be filled by Christ’s disciples in His Kingdom who down through the centuries have forsaken all and suffered for His Names’ sake.
Now when the ten other apostles heard John and James request they were greatly displeased with them. Nonetheless rather than rebuking the brothers the Lord now turns their error into a teaching moment, but so much more than just a teaching “moment”, rather the Lord is about to gives us a clarification of just what the Lord Jesus Christ came to do, but also just how true leadership looks and acts. And so, unlike the rulers of the Gentiles who rule from their “thrones” and live by the comforts and privileges of those positions, who as the Lord Jesus says, “lord it over” those whom they rule, just as those who are “great” amongst them exercise authority over them (vs. 25). The Lord Jesus Christ says, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave…” Because as the Lord Jesus Christ declares: “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Therefore in the Kingdom of heaven service (not seeking privilege) is what makes one great in the eyes of God.
Commentary
Vs.
20-21 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her
sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do
you wish?” She said to Him,
“Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the
other on the left, in Your kingdom.”How much time passed from the Lords declaration of His up coming Crucifixion death then Resurrection from dead and the mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John) before she came to the Lord Jesus with her request is not known. And though her approach to Lord shows humility, her request only shows that both she and her sons focus was not on what the Lord was about to accomplish (not only for them but for all who believe in Him) but only what they could gain for themselves in His Kingdom. Therefore, her request that her two sons could sit on the Lord Jesus Christ’s right and left hand in His Kingdom (thus elevating them far above the rest of twelve whom the Lord Jesus had already promised would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel in His Kingdom, see Matt. 19:28) reveals how messed up a person’s focus can get when selfish ambitions and desires are harbored and pursued.
Vs. 22-23 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
Therefore, those places of honor are not things that anyone should set their focus on, because it is the God the Fathers prerogative to give them to those whom it is prepared for by Him. Again, the Lord Jesus Christ already had promised the twelve great positions of privilege and honor in His Kingdom. And so, known only too God, there is still many other places and privileges that will be filled by Christ’s disciples in His Kingdom who down through the centuries have forsaken all and suffered for His Names’ sake.
Vs.
24-28 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly
displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but
whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you,
let him be your slave—28 just
as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life
a ransom for many.”
Now when the ten other apostles heard John and James request they were greatly displeased with them. Nonetheless rather than rebuking the brothers the Lord now turns their error into a teaching moment, but so much more than just a teaching “moment”, rather the Lord is about to gives us a clarification of just what the Lord Jesus Christ came to do, but also just how true leadership looks and acts. And so, unlike the rulers of the Gentiles who rule from their “thrones” and live by the comforts and privileges of those positions, who as the Lord Jesus says, “lord it over” those whom they rule, just as those who are “great” amongst them exercise authority over them (vs. 25). The Lord Jesus Christ says, “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave…” Because as the Lord Jesus Christ declares: “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Therefore in the Kingdom of heaven service (not seeking privilege) is what makes one great in the eyes of God.
Scripture Quotations:
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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