MATTHEW 20
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling 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 are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared 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, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:20-28
MATTHEW 20 HUMILITY AND SERVING OTHERS LEAD TO GREATNESS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
In the world system, greatness comes from position and power
In God’s kingdom, greatness is a result of humility and serving others
If you want to be great in God’s eyes, serve your neighbors willingly
Stay meek and never aim for greatness through your own abilities
If the Lord God has chosen you to be one of his children
You will be equipped with blessings to enter his heavenly kingdom.
It is interesting that the mother’s request here is assurance for her two sons to sit on both right and left side of him in God’s kingdom. Don’t all mothers want what is best for their children? That is clearly indicated in this account. But what she asked Jesus here is a guarantee that her sons would have those two places she requested beside the Lord. We humans don’t know sometimes what we ask for. It seems like she doesn’t have enough knowledge of God and his covenant and salvation plan. If she did, it would have been wrong for her to ask for assurance for her sons because that would mean that she didn’t know the plan of God for humanity. It is only God who chooses who would inherit his kingdom.
I love how Jesus answered this when he pointed out the authority of his Father as he is ultimately the only one who chooses who sits beside him and also the only one who elects his own people. In Scripture we know that the right-hand side of God is reserved for Jesus alone and so Jesus corrected her in verse 22 when he said that she had no clue what she was asking for. In his reply, he manifested humility and worship of his Father. He knows exactly where he stands with God. He wasn’t going to give her assurance of the salvation of her sons since that wasn’t his place to do so. Jesus also challenges the mother that her sons must be able to endure the same suffering he would be enduring to fulfill God’s salvation plan. When the other disciples reacted in anger against the two brothers, Jesus explained to them that those who want greatness must have humility and be slaves of the other.
REFLECTION
· Why do you think it was wrong for the mother to ask for positions for her children?
