Greatness Is Serving(A)

20 (B)Then the mother of (C)Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine (D)may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink (E)the cup that I am about to drink, [a]and be baptized with (F)the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

23 So He said to them, (G)“You will indeed drink My cup, [b]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

24 (H)And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet (I)it shall not be so among you; but (J)whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 (K)And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 (L)just as the (M)Son of Man did not come to be served, (N)but to serve, and (O)to give His life a ransom (P)for many.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:22 NU omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
  2. Matthew 20:23 NU omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with

20 Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, [a]worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able. 23 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your [b]minister; 27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your [c]servant: 28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:20 See marginal note on 2:2.
  2. Matthew 20:26 Or, servant
  3. Matthew 20:27 Greek bondservant.