Matthew 20:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 20:20-28

Here, is first, the request of the two disciples to Christ, and the rectifying of the mistake upon which that was grounded, Matt. 20:20-23. The sons of Zebedee were James and John, two of the first three of Christ's disciples; Peter and they were his favourites; John was the disciple whom Jesus loved; yet none were so often reproved as they; whom Christ loves best he reproves most, Rev. 3:19. I. Here is the ambitious address they made to Christ?that they might sit, the one on his right hand,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 20:20-28

20:20-28 At that time the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons, kneeling before him, and asking something from him. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to him, "Speak the word that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left, in your Kingdom." Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup which I have to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He said to them, "My cup you are to drink; but to sit on my right... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 20:20-28

Second, this passage sheds a light upon the Christian life. Jesus said that those who would share his triumph must drink his cup. What was that cup? It was to James and John that Jesus spoke. Now life treated James and John very differently. James was the first of the apostolic band to die a martyr ( Acts 12:2 ). For him the cup was martyrdom. On the other hand, by far the greater weight of tradition goes to show that John lived to a great old age in Ephesus and died a natural death when he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 20:20-28

The request of James and John not unnaturally annoyed the other disciples. They did not see why the two brothers should steal a march on them, even if they were the cousins of Jesus. They did not see why they should be allowed to stake their claims to preeminence. Jesus knew what was going on in their minds; and he spoke to them words which are the very basis of the Christian life. Out in the world, said Jesus, it is quite true that the great man is the man who controls others; the man to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 20:20-28

What Jesus calls upon his followers to do he himself did. He came not to be served, but to serve. He came to occupy not a throne, but a cross. It was just because of this that the orthodox religious people of his time could not understand him. All through their history the Jews had dreamed of the Messiah; but the Messiah of whom they had dreamed was always a conquering king, a mighty leader, one who would smash the enemies of Israel and reign in power over the kingdoms of the earth. They... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:20

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children ,.... Whose name was Salome, as may be concluded from Matthew 27:56 compared with Mark 15:40 . She is not called the wife of Zebedee, who might be now dead, but the mother of his children, his two sons, as the Arabic version renders it: James and John, and who were the disciples of Christ: it is not certain, that Zebedee was ever a follower of him; and therefore the woman is described by her relation to her children, and not her husband;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:20

The mother of Zebedee's children - This was Salome. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:20

Verse 20 Matthew 20:20.Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children. This narrative contains a bright mirror of human vanity; for it shows that proper and holy zeal is often accompanied by ambition, or some other vice of the flesh, so that they who follow Christ have a different object in view from what they ought to have. They who are not satisfied with himself alone, but seek this or the other thing apart from him and his promises, wander egregiously from the right path. Nor is it enough... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:20

Then . The incident seems to have arisen from the promise of the twelve thrones in Matthew 19:28 , and is significant as showing how utterly misunderstood was the true nature of the Messianic kingdom. The mother of Zebedee's children. The mother of James and John was named Salome; she had left her husband Zebedee ( Mark 1:20 ) in Galilee (unless, as is more probable from the terms in which she is introduced, he was now dead), and followed Jesus in the band of holy women who attended on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:20

Motherly ambition. It is certainly surprising to find James and John presenting such a request as this. We cannot but think that they ought to have known their Lord better. If any of the apostolic company had insight of their Master's spiritual mission, it surely was the first group, which included James and John. Perhaps Matthew lets the light in when he explains that they were prompted by their mother. "Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons worshipping him, and... read more

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