Mark 10:40

40 But I don't have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people."

Mark 10:40 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 10:40

But to sit on my right hand and on my left, is mine to
give
There being no such places in his kingdom in the sense they petitioned; and as for the glories of the heavenly state or eternal life, the gift of these was not to be settled now it being done already: and though he had a power to give yet only to them who were given him of his Father and who were ordained to such happiness as it follows:

but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared;
that is, of his Father as is expressed in ( Matthew 20:23 ) which is not to be understood as excluding these two persons but as including all others with them for whom the kingdom was prepared before the foundation of the world: the Ethiopic version therefore wrongly renders the words "but to sit on my right hand and on my left, I do not give to you, it is prepared for other": the Jew F7 very badly concludes from hence against the deity of Christ and his unity with the Father he not having power to do this; whereas Christ does not say he had no power to give this honour, but only describes the persons to whom he should give it; and these being persons for whom it, is prepared by his Father instead of destroying, proves their unity.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 R. Isaac, Chizzuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 20. p. 409.

Mark 10:40 In-Context

38 Jesus said, "You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink the cup that I'm going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive?"
39 "We can," they told him. Jesus told them, "You will drink the cup that I'm going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive.
40 But I don't have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people."
41 When the other ten apostles heard about it, they were irritated with James and John.
42 Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people.
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