Matthew 20:20-28

A Mother’s Request

20 ¹Then ²the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and ³kneeling before him she asked him for something.

21 And he said to her, “What do you want? ”She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine ⁴are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, ⁵in your kingdom. ”

22 Jesus answered, ⁶“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ⁷to drink the cup that I am to drink? ”They said to him, “We are able. ”

23 He said to them, ⁸“You will drink ⁹my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, ¹⁰but it is for those for whom it has been ¹¹prepared by my Father. ”

24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, ¹²“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles ¹³lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

26 ¹⁴It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ^[a]

27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ^[b]

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but ¹⁵to serve, and ¹⁶to give his life as a ransom for ¹⁷many. ”