Matthew 20:20-28
Christian Standard Bible
Suffering and Service
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons.(A) She knelt down to ask him for something.(B) 21 “What do you want?” he asked her.
“Promise,”[a] she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.”(C)
22 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”[b](D)
“We are able,” they said to him.
23 He told them, “You will indeed drink my cup,[c] but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”(E)
24 When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,(F) 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,(G) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(H)
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Matthew 20:20-28
New Living Translation
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.
She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
