Knowing The Word in Matthew 20:20-28

A Mother's Request

[The idea of heavenly rewards continues]

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee [she too is following Jesus and shows up next at the cross 27:56] came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left [the promise of 19:28?], in your kingdom.” [James and John are two-thirds of Jesus’ inner circle. Perhaps the rebuke of Peter in 16:23 has opened the door for these two to move to the top of the 12-disciple pile.] 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup [OT metaphor for destined suffering—not marriage or maybe it is!] that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” [Jesus directs the conversation away from the mother to the sons.] 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup [Acts 12:2], but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” [Our heavenly reward cannot be earned because God has already prepared it.] 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. [Is this holy indignation or jealousy?] 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. [The values of secular society do not apply among his disciples. Now Jesus explains about the first being last.] But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, [self-importance, respect, ambition, self-worth, and position to impose on others are the values of the rat race, not of the kingdom] 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Jesus is the example to his disciples as servant. He fulfills Isaiah 52:13-53:12. The use of “ransom” points to the clear understanding that Jesus, through his death, provides for us what we cannot achieve for ourselves: release. He takes our place as the payment of an equivalent sum of money procures the release of a captive or debtor. The good news for us is that it isn’t for the few but for the many.]