Matthew 20:20-28

Preferment Asked

20 ¹Then the mother of ²the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, ³bowing down and making a request of Him.

21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine ⁴may sit one on Your right and one on Your left."

22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ⁵to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able."

23 He said to them, "⁶My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, ⁷but it is for those for whom it has been ⁸prepared by My Father."

24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.

25 ⁹But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.

26 "It is not this way among you, ¹⁰but whoever * wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,

27 and whoever * wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;

28 just as ¹¹the Son of Man ¹²did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 20:20-28: {Mark 10:35-45}
• 2. Matthew 4:21; Matthew 10:2
• 3. Matthew 8:2
• 4. Matthew 19:28
• 5. Isaiah 51:17, 22; Jeremiah 49:12; Matthew 26:39, 42; Luke 22:42; John 18:11
• 6. Acts 12:2; Revelation 1:9
• 7. Matthew 13:11
• 8. Matthew 25:34
• 9. Matthew 20:25-28; Luke 22:25-27
• 10. Matthew 23:11; Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43; Luke 22:26
• 11. Matthew 8:20
• 12. Matthew 26:28; John 13:13f; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:7; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Him"
• [b]. Or "soul"