Foretelling His Passion. Rebuking Ambition.

  ^a 22 But Jesus answered and said, ^b unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I drink? {^a that I am about to drink?} ^b or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? [The word "cup" among the Hebrews meant a portion assigned ( Psalms 16:5 ; 23:5 ), whether of pleasure or of sorrow. But the idea of sorrow usually predominated ( Matthew 26:39 Matthew 26:42 ; Revelation 14:10 ; 16:19 ; 18:6 ; Psalms 75:8 ; Isaiah 51:17 ; Jeremiah 25:15 ). To be baptized with suffering means to be overwhelmed with it, a metaphorical use of the word arising from the fact that it means an immersion. This metaphorical use of baptism aids us to understand the meaning of that word, for neither sprinkling nor pouring could have suggested the overpowering between cup and baptism, making the former refer to inward spiritual suffering, and the latter to outer persecution and trial.]

  39 And they said {^a say} unto him, We are able.

^b And Jesus said {^a saith} unto them, My {^b The} cup that I drink ^a indeed ye shall drink: ^b and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized

[They probably thought that Jesus referred to some battle or conflict which would attend the ushering in of the kingdom, and as they were not wanting in physical courage, they were ready enough to pledge themselves to endure it. They spoke with unwarranted self-confidence, but Jesus rebuked them very gently, as he foreknew what suffering they would indeed endure. James was the first apostolic martyr ( Acts 12:2 ), and John's spirit was sorely troubled with the conflict of error, as his epistles show, and his last days were darkened by the shadow of persecution-- Revelation 1:9 ]:

^b And Jesus said {^a saith} unto them, My {^b The} cup that I drink ^a indeed ye shall drink: ^b and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized

  40 but to sit on my right hand or {^a and} on my left hand, is not mine to give; ^b but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared. ^a of my Father. [Future rewards are indeed meted out by the hand of Christ ( 2 Timothy 4:8 ; Revelation 2:10 Revelation 2:17 Revelation 2:26 Revelation 2:28 ; Revelation 3:12 Revelation 3:21 , et al.), but they are not distributed according to caprice or favoritism, but according to the will of the Father and the rules which he has established. Jesus proceeds to set forth the principles by which places of honor are obtained in his kingdom.]

  24 And when the ten heard it, they were {^b began to be} ^a moved with indignation concerning the two brethren. ^b James and John

  42 And {^a but} Jesus called them unto him, and said {^b saith} unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over {^a the rulers of} the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

  26 Not so shall it be {^b 43 But it is not so} among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister;

  44 and whosoever would be first among you, ^a shall be your servant: ^b shall be servant of all.

[The ten, sharing the same ambition as the two, the Lord's known affection for them. To restore peace among them, and to correct their false views, he draws the distinction between the worldly greatness to which they aspired, and the spiritual greatness which they ought to have sought. In an earthly kingdom honor and authority measure greatness, but in Christ's kingdom it is measured by humility and service. Jesus added power to his rebuke by showing them that their spirit was not even Jewish, but altogether heathenish.]

  42 And {^a but} Jesus called them unto him, and said {^b saith} unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over {^a the rulers of} the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

  26 Not so shall it be {^b 43 But it is not so} among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister;

  44 and whosoever would be first among you, ^a shall be your servant: ^b shall be servant of all.

  45 For {^a 28 even as} ^b the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. [He enforces this lesson by his own example in that he came to serve men and not to have them serve him. Jesus could ever refer to himself as the best example of the virtues which he taught. Since honor consists in being like the King, the highest honor consists in being most like him. The closing words state the vicarious nature of Christ's suffering as plainly as language can express it. The ransom is offered for all ( 1 Timothy 2:6 ), and will be efficacious for as many as accept it. The words are nearly a reproduction of the words of Isaiah-- Isaiah 53:12 .]