Matthew 20:20-25

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 20:20

Evidently James and John approached Jesus with their mother who voiced the request for them (cf. Mark 10:35). The reason they took this approach was not significant to the Gospel writers, though it suggests some reticence on the part of James and John. Evidently they believed Jesus would be more favorable to their mother’s request than to theirs perhaps because Jesus had been teaching them to be humble. Their kneeling implied respect but not necessarily worship. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 20:20-28

5. Instruction about serving 20:20-28 (cf. Mark 10:35-45)This pericope shows that the disciples did not understand what Jesus had said (cf. Luke 18:34)."Despite Jesus’ repeated predictions of his passion, two disciples and their mother are still thinking about privilege, status, and power." [Note: Carson, "Matthew," p. 430.] "The natural human concern with status and importance is clearly one of the most fundamental instincts which must be unlearned by those who belong to God’s kingdom." [Note:... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 20:21

The request evidently grew out of what Jesus had said about the Son of Man sitting on His throne of glory and the disciples judging the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). The right and left hand positions alongside Jesus suggest positions of prestige and power in His kingdom. Note that the disciples viewed the messianic kingdom as still future. The fact that they would make this request shortly after Jesus had again announced His death shows how little they understood about His death... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 20:22

The disciples and their mother did not realize that the Cross must precede the crown. To share the crown they would have to share the Cross. Since they did not know what that involved for Jesus they could hardly appreciate what it would mean for them (cf. Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:37-39). The "cup" in Old Testament figurative usage sometimes refers to blessing (Psalms 16:5; Psalms 23:5; Psalms 116:13). Sometimes it is a metaphor for judgment or retribution (cf. Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17-18;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 20:23

Jesus answered the disciples on their own terms. They would experience suffering and rejection. James would become the first apostolic martyr (Acts 12:2) and John would suffer exile (Revelation 1:9), but Jesus would not determine who will sit on His right and left in the kingdom. The Father, under whose authority Jesus served, had already determined that (cf. Mark 10:40). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 20:24-27

James and John’s request evidently offended the other disciples because they were hoping for those positions. Greatness in the kingdom was still much on their minds despite Jesus’ teaching on humility and childlikeness (cf. Matthew 18:10)."The fact that the other disciples were angered at James and John shows that they were in heart and spirit no better than the two brothers. . . . They all wanted the first place." [Note: W. A. Criswell, Expository Notes on the Gospel of Matthew, p. 117.] Jesus... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Matthew 20:22

20:22 drink? (a-21) Mark 10:38-39 adds, 'or be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with?' and the same in ver. 23. read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Matthew 20:23

20:23 to (b-29) See Note, Mark 10:40 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 20:1-34

The Labourers in the Vineyard. The Journey to Jerusalem1-16, Parable of the labourers in the vineyard (peculiar to St. Matthew). This difficult parable is closely linked with what goes before, and can only be understood in connexion with it. It rebukes the spirit of Peter’s enquiry (Matthew 19:27), ’We have left all and followed thee; what then shall we have?’ The Twelve through Peter had demanded a superlatively great reward, because they had been called first and had laboured longest. Such a... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 20:20

(20) Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children.—The state of feeling described in the previous Note supplies the only explanation of a request so strange. The mother of James and John (we find on comparing Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40, that her name was Salome) was among those who “thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear” (Luke 19:11); and probably the words so recently spoken, which promised that the Twelve should sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel... read more

Grupo de Marcas