Matthew 20 Study Notes

20:20 Zebedee’s sons were James and John (see note at 4:18-22).

20:21 Jesus had promised that his disciples would sit on twelve thrones ruling over Israel in the renewal of all things (19:28-29). Now James and John sought, through their mother, to gain prominence over their fellows. Along with Peter, they were members of Jesus’s inner circle. Because Jesus rebuked Peter in 16:23, they may have aspired to usurp Peter’s position of prominence as well.

20:22-23 The cup was a metaphor for suffering (26:39). Jesus’s question probed the disciples’ willingness to suffer for him like he would suffer for them. You will indeed drink my cup foretells the sufferings of James (Ac 12:1-2) and John. The parable in Mt 20:1-16 demonstrated that the Father distributes reward as he chooses, not according to merit. Jesus confirmed again the principle of the Father’s freedom to determine who will enjoy heaven’s greatest blessings.

20:24-28 The competition between the disciples exposed their pride. Jesus called his disciples to the same humble servitude that he modeled. The ultimate expression of his humility was his own sacrificial death that served as a ransom for believers. Jesus’s words echo the themes of Is 53, which Matthew applied to Jesus in Mt 8:17.

20:29-34 The parallel passage in Mk 10:46-52 refers to only one blind man, not two blind men. However, since Mark gives the name of the blind man he mentions, he was probably known to Mark’s original readers. Mark did not mention the other blind man because he wished to focus attention only on the man with whom his readers were familiar. On Son of David, see note at 1:1.