Matthew 20:20, commentary and pictures

On the final journey toward Jerusalem as Passover approaches, with Jesus going ahead toward his place of sacrifice, the mother of Zebedee's children comes to him together with her sons James and John, worshipping him reverently to ask a favor on their behalf. She asks that her two sons be given the most honored places in his kingdom at his right and left, clinging to the hope of a temporal kingdom soon to be established and failing to understand his plain announcement that he would be rejected and crucified. Christ does not reprove them for making the request, but uses it to teach that greatness in his kingdom is the reverse of worldly rank and authority, for whoever would be great must humbly serve others and whoever would be chief must become their servant. The pattern is the Son of God himself, who came as a minister and servant, not to be served, and gave his life as a ransom for many. They do not understand what they ask, for places of honor are assigned by the Father, and sharing Christ's glory requires sharing his cup and baptism of suffering, self-denial and sacrifice, wearing his yoke and learning his meekness daily on the way through the cross to the crown.

Setting and Request

The request belongs to the final journey toward Jerusalem as Passover approached, when Jesus went ahead toward the place of sacrifice while the disciples who followed were amazed and afraid. The mother of Zebedee's children came to Him together with her sons James and John, worshipping Him reverently and asking Him for a favor on their behalf. She asked that her two sons be given the most honored places in His kingdom, at His right hand and at His left, expressing family ambition for favored positions and distinction.

The request clung to the idea of a temporal, worldly kingdom soon to be established, and showed failure to understand His plain announcement that He would be rejected and crucified. If that announcement had been understood, hearts would have been too deeply moved to ask for places of honor. Prophecies of His coming in the clouds with power and great glory, which belong to His second coming, were applied to His first coming, with expectation of a conquering prince to sit on David's throne and gather the nations under His rule. Promises to Israel were boasted of while the conditions of entire obedience and loyalty to the will and Word of God were ignored, with the plainly stated reason for subjection to heathen rulers in their sins, and because piety and purity were lost through following the rabbis instead of searching the Scriptures, His instruction did not effectually subdue the spirit of self-exaltation, which appeared whenever circumstances were favorable, so as His trial drew near He opened before them His future suffering, shame, and death.

The mother herself followed Christ and had freely used her means to serve Him, yet her love for her sons was joined to ambition for their advancement. She encouraged them to ask because they longed to be especially close to Jesus and honored in His kingdom. Her sons were the ambitious, outspoken sons of Zebedee, called sons of thunder, with faults of evil temper, revenge, indignation, combativeness, criticism aroused by any slight shown to Jesus, and lack of natural meekness and yielding spirit. Yet they did not leave Him when reproved, warned, and cautioned, but chose Him and shared His trials to the end, opening the heart to His tenderness, forbearance, humility, and patience. They hid self in Christ, learned to wear His yoke and bear His burden, and by beholding Him were transformed in character into oneness in faith, doctrine, and spirit with the other widely different disciples.

In one account the sons sought places close to Christ because they loved Him and wanted to be near Him, not from the bad motive often attributed to them. In other accounts the request arose from pride, ambition, and desire for worldly honor and distinction rather than from following Christ and closely following His life and conduct. Her request began contention among the disciples and is linked to their strife over who would be greatest.

True Greatness and Cost

Christ did not rebuke the mother and her sons for making the request, but turned it into instruction that his followers are to deal with one another in love and to take his own humble, serving life as their pattern. Greatness in his kingdom is the opposite of worldly rank, dignity, and rule over others, for whoever would be great must humbly serve others and whoever would be chief must become their servant. Leaders in his church are to serve as shepherds, closely following Christ's life and conduct rather than seeking worldly dignity and honors.

The standard is the Son of God himself, who came as a minister and servant to humanity and not to be served. He spent his life in serving others and gave his life as a ransom for many. Those who would be near him must follow that same serving example.

They did not understand what they were asking, for the places of honor are assigned by the Father and sharing Christ's glory requires sharing his cup and baptism of suffering, self-denial, and sacrifice. It requires first wearing his yoke and bearing his burdens, and learning his meekness and lowliness day by day. The way to the crown of eternal life leads through the cross.

Those who deny self, give others preference, and are most active in serving others are nearest to Christ and greatest in his spiritual kingdom. He sets humble, self-sacrificing disciples in positions of distinction because of true worth, even when they do not seek honor for themselves. His followers pledge to walk as he walked and to imitate his self-denial and life of serving others. As members of his body they do not contend for greatness but share a common interest and cooperate with him in restoring God's image in humanity.