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Matthew 20:21
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19 aand deliver Him to the Gentiles to bmock and to cscourge and to dcrucify. And the third day He will erise again.”  

Greatness Is Serving

20 aThen the mother of bZebedee’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 amay 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 athe cup that I am about to drink,1 and be baptized with bthe baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”  
23 So He said to them, a“You will indeed drink My cup,1 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 aAnd 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 ait shall not be so among you; but bwhoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
<< Matthew 20:20   Matthew 20:22 >>


Matthew 20:21

Grant that these my two sons - James and John. See Mark 15:40. In the preceding chapter, Matthew 19:28, our Lord had promised his disciples, that they should sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes. Salome, probably hearing of this, and understanding it literally, came to request the chief dignities in this new government for her sons; and it appears it was at their instigation that she made this request, for Mark, Mark 10:35, informs us that these brethren themselves made the request, i.e. they made it through the medium of their mother.

One on thy right hand, and the other on (Thy) left - I have added the pronoun in the latter clause on the authority of almost every MS. and version of repute.

That the sons of Zebedee wished for ecclesiastical, rather than secular honors, may be thought probable, from the allusion that is made here to the supreme dignities in the great Sanhedrin. The prince of the Sanhedrin ( Ha - Nasi ) sat in the midst of two rows of senators or elders; on his right hand sat the person termed AB (the father of the Sanhedrin); and on his left hand the Chacham , or sage. These persons transacted all business in the absence of the president. The authority of this council was at some periods very great, and extended to a multitude of matters both ecclesiastical and civil. These appear to have been the honors which James and John sought. They seem to have strangely forgot the lesson they had learned from the transfiguration.




Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 20:21:

Matthew 23:9

 

<< Matthew 20:20   Matthew 20:22 >>

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