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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 260

A Strange Interruption

Text: Matthew 20 : 17 - 34

The disciples fought both sorrow and fear as they drew nearer to Jerusalem. They knew better than to attempt to dissuade Jesus from going forward to meet His destiny! He had spoken to them often enough on the matter. To raise objections would surely bring about a firm rebuke! Silently, they fought their emotions of both sorrow and fear! Suddenly, an interruption took place that threatened the sense of unity that Jesus had forged among the disciples.

“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons,
kneeling down and asking something from Him.
And He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’
She said to Him, ‘Grant that these two sons of mine may sit,
one on Your right hand and the other on the left,
in Your kingdom.'”
MATTHEW 20:20-21

This event was so unlikely that Matthew mentioned the involvement of the mother of James and John. The Gospel of Mark only mentioned that James and John sought Jesus out personally. Apparently, they were “cutting out” Peter, who had been the third person in the inner circle of three (Matthew 17:1).

We can well understand a mother’s heart being desirous of seeing her children getting the best out of life. As she came to Jesus, she asked nothing for herself at all. Instead she asked that her two sons be given the highest place of honour. Would Jesus grant that the two sons sit on His right and His left?

A DEEPER INSIGHT CONCERNING THE GRANTING OF REQUESTS

Matthew mentioned the mother of James and John in this petition presented to Jesus. However, this does not mean that the two brothers were not part of the scheme to attempt to steal a march on the others. The reply that Jesus made revealed that the two disciples were very much involved. The Gospel of Mark gives us another perspective – that of James and John being desirous of sitting on the right and left of Jesus.

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying,
‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’
And He said to them, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’
They said to Him. ‘Grant us that we may sit, one of Your
right hand, and the other on Your left, in Your glory.'”
MARK 10:35-37

How little the disciples seemed to have understood what Jesus had been trying to teach them all this while. This request was little more than another version of the issue of personal greatness that the disciples debated among themselves (Matthew 18:1). Despite the fact that Jesus had taught them not to seek personal ambition and greatness, the disciples had not resolved this problem in their hearts. There was only one thing to do. This matter had to be thought through once again.

“But Jesus answered and said, ‘You do not know what you ask.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink,
and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, ‘We are able.’
So He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink 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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.'”
MATTHEW 20:22

1. “You do not know what you ask…”

Did the mother of the sons of Zebedee fully understand what she requested of Jesus? Did the two brothers comprehend what they desired of Jesus?

a) Did they comprehend the magnitude of their request?

To sit on the right and left hand of Jesus would be to receive the highest honour ever! What did they think they did that they deserved such honour?

b) Did they have a correct understanding of who they were?

James and John were good disciples who had given up their all to follow Jesus. But that could be said of all the others who had left everything to follow Him.

c) Where did their fellow-disciples fit in?

Where was Peter, their good friend? Where were the other disciples who had become fellow-disciples in the last three years? Why were they not considered in the request to receive recognition and reward?

d) What was God’s will on this matter?

This request did not take into consideration perhaps the most important thing of all – the will of God!

Jesus was right – once again! The disciples spoke out of turn. Their request did not reflect well on them!

2. “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink…?”

Jesus was about to drink the bitterest cup of suffering ever! He used another imagery to describe the suffering that He would endure shortly. Another dimension was added to the word “baptism”. Would the disciples be prepared to endure as much as Jesus did?

One of the ways in which God rewards and honours a person is to evaluate his entire life’s work! The entire life of the two brothers had not been lived out yet, and thus it was premature for them to make such a request!