Matthew 20:20-28 - Homiletics

Salome and her sons.

I. THEIR CONVERSATION WITH CHRIST .

1 . The request . Salome was one of the Lord's most faithful followers; she was present at the cross; perhaps she was his mother's sister. Her sons had been admitted into the innermost circle of the apostles; they with Peter were the three nearest to the Lord. But even the chosen three could not receive the Lord's predictions of his death. Their hearts were so preoccupied with thoughts of the kingdom, the twelve thrones, the coming glories, that they seemed quite unable to take the thought of the cross into their minds. They had seen the grandeur of the Transfiguration; like Peter, they recoiled in horror from the prospect of the cross. They could not think that that height of glory and that depth of shame could meet in one Person; they could not believe it at all; and, as men do still, or try to do, they put away such distressing thoughts. And now Salome came, doing lowly reverence to Jesus as to the King Messiah, and making her request. She prayed, not for herself, but with a mother's love for her sons, that they might sit, the one on the Lord's right hand, the other on the left, in his kingdom.

2 . The Lord ' s reply . "Ye know not what ye ask." They thought of an earthly kingdom. He knew what they would not know, though he had told them thrice. Salome would soon see, one at least of her sons would see, the Lord not sitting on a royal throne, but hanging on the cross. They would see on the right hand and on the left not two great officers, two ministers of state, but two crucified malefactors. We often know not what we ask when we seek in our folly great things for ourselves. We do not know the future; we do not know ourselves. The best prayer is the Lord's own prayer, "Not my will, but thine, be done." "Not my will." We wish for this or that honour, this or that post of pre-eminence for ourselves, for our children, for those nearest and dearest to us. We know not what we ask; we do not rightly estimate our own powers; we do not think of the dangers and temptations which lie before us, the envies and the jealousies which we provoke. Ambition is rash always; most perilous is its rashness when it aspires to the highest places in the Church. "Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?" None can tread safely in those places save those who can drink of the Saviour's cup; none can endure those tremendous responsibilities save those who have been baptized with his baptism. And that cup is the cup of self-denial, and that baptism is the baptism of blood, the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanseth from all sin, which maketh those only white and clean who have come out of great tribulation, the spiritual tribulation of contrition and self-abasement, if not the outward tribulation of suffering for the sake of Christ. "We are able," said the sons of Zebedee. They were true and faithful; it was not a mere vulgar ambition which prompted them; they were devoted, heart and soul, to the service of their Lord. They were ready to follow him through danger and through suffering, though now they failed to understand the meaning of that kingdom which was so much in their thoughts. The Lord recognized their truth and loyalty; they had the high courage which they professed; they should be united very closely with him by the sacraments of suffering and martyrdom in deed or in will. But those highest places in the kingdom of glory were not to be given by partial love, at the request of mother or of sons; they were to be bestowed according to the eternal election of God the Father upon those who were nearest to the Lord in lowliness and entire self-sacrifice. Let us pray for the holy courage of the sons of Zebedee. "We are able." It is a noble word if it issues out of a true and real faith, if it is uttered in humility and dependence upon Christ; it is a pure and holy word when it is spoken by Christ's faithful followers. "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me." Otherwise it is presumptuous and profane. "Without me, ye can do nothing."

II. THE TEN APOSTLES .

1 . Their indignation . Salome and her sons had, it seems, approached the Lord privately, without the knowledge of the other apostles. When they heard of the request that had been made they were much displeased. The two had sought pre-eminence over the rest, even over Peter. Peter does not, as at other times, put himself prominently forward; possibly the twice-repeated warning of our Lord, "Many that are first shall be last," kept him back. The displeasure of the ten was natural, but it was wrong. They had forgotten the lessons of the eighteenth chapter; they still harboured those unworthy jealousies which ought to have no place among the disciples of Christ.

2 . The Lord ' s warning .

LESSONS .

1 . Seek not great things for yourselves, for your children; pray for humility.

2 . Try more and more to work into your heart that holiest prayer, "Not my will, but thine, be done."

3 . Abase yourselves. The lowliest here shall be the highest there.