20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, prostrating herself in reverence and asking something from him. [20:21] He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your kingdom." [20:22] And Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." [20:23] He said to them, "My cup you will drink, but to sit at my right and at my left — that is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." [20:24] And when the ten heard this, they were indignant at the two brothers. [20:25] But Jesus called them to himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. [20:26] It is not so among you. But whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant, [20:27] and whoever wishes to be first among you will be your slave — [20:28] just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
MAT 20:20-28
A Motherʼs Request
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, honor and status were central to social relationships. The request of the mother of Zebedee’s sons reflects this cultural priority, as she seeks positions of honor for her sons in Jesus’ kingdom—positions symbolized by sitting at His right and left. In Roman and Jewish contexts, such seating arrangements denoted authority and proximity to power, often reserved for trusted advisors or heirs. Jesus’ response shifts the focus from honor-seeking to suffering, referencing the “cup” and “baptism,” metaphors for His impending death. These images would have resonated with Jewish listeners familiar with the cup as a symbol of divine judgment (e.g., Psalm 75:8) and baptism as a metaphor for overwhelming trials. Jesus contrasts the Gentile rulers’ exercise of authority with His own model of servanthood , a term associated with humble, self-giving ministry. This inversion of power dynamics challenged the honor-shame framework of the disciples’ world, redefining greatness through service and sacrifice.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 20:20
- KJV
- Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
- BSB
- Then the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
- Koinōnos
- Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, prostrating herself in reverence and asking something from him.
MAT 20:21
- KJV
- And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
- BSB
- “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”
- Koinōnos
- He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your kingdom.
MAT 20:22
- KJV
- But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
- BSB
- “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered.
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able.
MAT 20:23
- KJV
- And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
- BSB
- “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”
- Koinōnos
- He said to them, "My cup you will drink, but to sit at my right and at my left — that is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.
MAT 20:24
- KJV
- And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
- BSB
- When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
- Koinōnos
- And when the ten heard this, they were indignant at the two brothers.
MAT 20:25
- KJV
- But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
- BSB
- But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus called them to himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
MAT 20:26
- KJV
- But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
- BSB
- It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
- Koinōnos
- It is not so among you. But whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant,
MAT 20:27
- KJV
- And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
- BSB
- and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—
- Koinōnos
- and whoever wishes to be first among you will be your slave —
MAT 20:28
- KJV
- Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- BSB
- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- Koinōnos
- just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.1.1
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.7.1
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.1.1
“He also spake kindly to the multitude from an elevated seat and a throne of gold, and returne”
Cited to ground: In Roman and Jewish contexts, such seating arrangements denoted authority and proximity to power, often reserved for trusted advisors or heirs.
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.7.1
“Herodias, Agrippa's sister, who now lived as wife to that Herod who was tetrarch of Galilee and Peres, took this authority of her brother in an envious manner, particularly when she saw that he had a greater dignity bestowed on him than her husband had”
Cited to ground: honor and status were central to social relationships.
Translator's notes
MAT 20:20
- kneeling down:The word translated 'kneeling down' here often carried the sense of prostrating oneself in worship or profound reverence, indicating a posture of deep submission and honor.
MAT 20:25
- Gentiles:The term translated 'Gentiles' literally referred to 'nations' or 'peoples,' often specifically denoting those who were not Jewish, emphasizing their cultural and religious distinction.
MAT 20:26
- your:The word translated 'your' is actually a noun meaning 'servant' or 'minister.' It describes someone who actively serves others, often in a formal or official capacity, rather than a possessive pronoun.
MAT 20:27
- slave;:The word translated 'slave' referred to a bondservant, someone who was legally owned by another, implying complete submission and lack of personal rights, not merely a hired hand.