Matthew 20:20-28

Lexham English Bible

A Request by the Mother of James and John

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and^[a] kneeling down she asked^[b] something from him. ²¹ And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom.” ²² But Jesus answered and^[c] said, “You do not know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³ He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine^[d] to grant, but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

²⁴ And when^[e] the ten heard this,^[f] they were indignant concerning the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to himself and^[g] said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It will not be like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be most prominent among you must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”