Matthew 20:20-28

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Two Disciples Jockey For Position In The Kingdom. Jesus Says, It Is Not Mine To Give

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons^[a], prostrating-herself and asking something from Him. ²¹ And the One said to her, “What do you want?” She says to Him, “Say that these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right side and one on Your left side in Your kingdom”. ²² But having responded, Jesus said, “You^[b] do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink?” They say to Him, “We are able”. ²³ He says to them, “You will drink My cup— but the sitting on My right side and on the left side, this is not Mine to give, but it is for whom it has been prepared by My Father”.

Whoever Wants To Be First Shall Be Your Slave. Even I Came To Serve

²⁴ And having heard-of it, the ten were indignant about the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus, having summoned them, said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles are lording-over^[c] them, and the great ones are exercising-authority-over^[d] them. ²⁶ It shall not be so among you. But whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you shall 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”.