Matthew 20:20-28

Expanded Bible

A Mother Asks Jesus a Favor^(A)

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee [^CJames and John] came to Jesus with her sons. She ·bowed [knelt] before him and asked ·him to do something for her [a favor of him].

²¹ Jesus asked, “What do you want?”

She said, “·Promise [Grant; Declare; ^LSay] that one of my sons will sit at your right ·side [hand] and the other will sit at your left side in your kingdom [^Cthe positions of highest authority beside the king].”

²² But Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. ·Can you [Are you able to] drink the cup [^Csymbolizing suffering, and perhaps God’s judgment experienced by Jesus on the cross; Jer. 25:15–29] that I am about to drink?”

The sons answered, “Yes, we ·can [are able].”

²³ Jesus said to them, “You will drink from my cup. But ·I cannot choose [it is not for me to grant/say] who will sit at my right or my left; those places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.”

²⁴ When the other ten ·followers [disciples] heard this, they were ·angry [indignant] with the two brothers.

²⁵ Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the ·Gentiles [nations] love to ·show their power [lord it] over the people. And their ·important leaders [high officials; ^Lgreat ones] love to ·use [exert] their authority [^Lover them]. ²⁶ But it ·should not be [must not be; is not to be] that way among you. [Instead, ^LBut] Whoever wants to become great among you must ·serve the rest of you like a servant [^Lbe your servant]. ²⁷ Whoever wants to become first among you must ·serve all of you like a slave [^Lbe slave of all]. ²⁸ In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people [Is. 53:12; John 11:49–50].”