Matthew 20:26-28 NIV

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 20:26

But it shall not be so among you ,.... This is not to be extended to Christian nations, as if there were to be no order of magistracy subsisting in them; but that all must be on a level, and no distinction of princes and subjects, of governors and governed; nor to Christian churches, as if there was no ecclesiastical authority to be used, or any church government and power to be exercised; none to rule, whom others are to obey and submit themselves to; but is to be restrained to the apostles... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:27

And whosoever will be chief among you ,.... Or first, or have the pre-eminence, the first place in the kingdom of the Messiah, let him be your servant; or, as in Mark, shall be servant of all : not only a minister, but a servant; not a servant of some only, but of all. This was verified in the Apostle Paul, who became a servant to all men, though he was free, that he might gain some to Christ; and by so doing was the chief, though he reckoned himself the least of the apostles, yea,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:28

Even as the son of man ,.... Meaning himself, the seed of the woman, the son of Abraham, and of David, according to the flesh; and whom he proposes as an example of humility, and as an argument to draw them off from their ambitious views of worldly grandeur, and from all thoughts of the Messiah's setting up a temporal kingdom; since he came not to be ministered unto by others; to be attended on in pomp and state, to have a numerous retinue about him, waiting upon him, and ministering to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:26

It shall not be so among you - Every kind of lordship and spiritual domination over the Church of Christ, like that exercised by the Church of Rome, is destructive and anti-christian. Your minister - Or, deacon, διακονος . I know no other word which could at once convey the meaning of the original, and make a proper distinction between it and δουλος , or servant, in Matthew 20:27 . The office of a deacon, in the primitive Church, was to serve in the agapae , or love feasts, to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:27

Your servant - Δουλος the lowest secular office, as deacon was the lowest ecclesiastical office: δουλος is often put for slave. From these directions of our Lord, we may easily discern what sort of a spirit his ministers should be of. A minister of Christ is not to consider himself a lord over Christ's flock. He is not to conduct the concerns of the Church with an imperious spirit. He is to reform the weak, after Christ's example, more by loving instruction than by reproof or... read more

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

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:27

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