Matthew 20:23

“And we must interpret in the same way what our Lord says to the sons of Zebedee, one of whom wished to sit on His left hand, the other on His right:“My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give, but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xx. 23.

“If then the offering of gifts is the special function of priests and Christ in His humanity was called priest and offered no other sacrifice save His own body, then the Lord Christ had a body.” — editor's note: I have no hesitation in translating ἀλλὰ here by “save,” in spite of the purist prejudice which has led even the revisers of 1881 to retain something of the…

““How,” they say, “can the Son of God be the only true God, like to the Father, when He Himself said to the sons of Zebedee: ‘Ye shall drink indeed of My cup; but to sit on My right hand or on My left, is not Mine to give to you, but to those for whom it has been prepared of My Father’?”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xx. 23.

“Suppose, however, that it had been possible for men to obtain what was desired; what does it mean when He says: “But to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give to you”?” — editor's note: S. Matt. xx. 23.

“And when the disciples assented, the Lord said, ‘Ye shall indeed drink of My cup; but that ye should sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give; but to those for whom it is prepared.’” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 22, 23.

“Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping Him, and desiring a certain thing of Him;” and so on, down to the words, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 17–28.

“Yet, according to the form of a servant, He replied to His disciples, when inquiring about their own glorification: “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 by my Father.”” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 23

“How then is it not “His to give to sit on His right hand, and on His left,”when He saith, “I will give thee”?” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 23.

“After that He adds, “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?”” — editor's note: [The longer reading is here accepted. The R.V. follows a briefer reading here and in verse 23.—R.]

“To the second question we must say, that such a gift does not transcend the power of the Son of God, but what is said by Matthew, “it is prepared by My Father,” [Matt. 20:23] is the same as if it were said, “by Me,” wherefore also Mark did not say here, by My Father.” — the author cites it

“This is the meaning, I think, of the words “my Father is greater than I,” and also of the statement, “It is not mine to give save to those for whom it is prepared by my Father.”” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 23. cf. n. Theodoret, p. 28.

“…of God and of the Lord, and of the heavenly Jerusalem; now a sitting with the Lord on His throne,—which once was persistently refused to the sons of Zebedee.” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 20–23.

The Lord having concluded by saying, “And shall rise again the third day;” the woman thought that after His resurrection He should forthwith reign, and with womanish eagerness grasps at what is present, forgetful of…

This mother of the sons of Zebedee is Salome, as her name is given by another Evangelist, [marg. note: Mark 15, 40; 16, 1] herself truly peaceful, and the mother of sons of peace. From this place we learn the eminent…

What Matthew has here represented as being said by the mother, Mark relates that the two sons of Zebedee spake themselves, when she had presented their wish before the Lord; so that from Mark’s brief notice [marg.…

They saw the disciples honoured before others, and had heard that “ye shall sit upon twelve thrones,” [Matt 19:28] whereupon they sought to have the primacy of that seat. And that others were in greater honour with…

For if in an earthly kingdom they are thought to be in honour who sit with the king, no wonder if a woman with womanish simplicity or want of experience conceived that she might ask such things, and that the brethren…

Or otherwise. We affirm not that this woman’s request was a lawful one; but this we affirm, that it was not earthly things, but heavenly things that she asked for her sons. For she felt not as ordinary mothers, whose…

For when sin is destroyed, which reigned in men’s mortal bodies, with the entire dynasty of malignant powers, Christ shall receive exaltation of His kingdom among men; that is, His sitting on the throne of His glory.…

He that gave Himself to man, how shall He not give them the fellowship of His kingdom? The supineness of the petitioner is in fault, where the graciousness of the giver is undoubted. But if we ourselves ask our…

And no wonder, if she is convicted of inexperience, seeing it is said of Peter, “Not knowing what he said.” [Luke 9:33]

For ofttimes the Lord suffers His disciples either to do or to think somewhat amiss, that from their error He may take occasion to set forth a rule of piety; knowing that their fault harms not when the Master is…

This He says to shew either that they sought nothing spiritual, or that had they known for what they asked, they would not have asked that which was so far beyond their faculties.

They know not what they ask, because there was no doubt of the future glory of the Apostles; His former discourse had assured them that they should judge the world.

Or, “Ye know not what ye ask:” as much as to say, I have called you to My right hand away from My left, and now you wilfully desire to be on My left. Hence perhaps they did this through the mother. For the devil…

They knew not what they asked, for they were asking of the Lord a seat in glory, which they had not yet merited. The honourable eminence liked them well, but they had first to practise the laborious path thereto;…

By the cup in the divine Scriptures we understand suffering, as in the Psalm, “I will take the cup of salvation;” [Ps. 116:13-15] and straightway He proceeds to shew what is the cup, “Precious in the sight of the…

The Lord knew that they were able to follow His passion, but He puts the question to them that we may all hear, that no man can reign with Christ, unless he is conformed to Christ in His passion; for that which is…

He says therefore, “Can ye drink it?” as much as to say, You ask me of honours and crowns, but I speak to you of labour and travail, for this is no time for rewards. He draws their attention by the manner of His…

That by such partaking they may burn with the more zeal towards Him. But they, already sharing the readiness and constancy of martyrdom, promise that they would drink of it; whence it follows, “They say unto him, We…

Or, they say this not so much out of reliance on their own fortitude, as out of ignorance; for to the inexperienced the trial of suffering and death appears slight.

Or they offer this in the eagerness of their desire, expecting that for their thus speaking they should have what they desired. But He foretels great blessings for them, to wit, that they should be made worthy of…

Christ does not say, Ye are able to drink of My cup, but looking to their future perfection He said, “Ye shall indeed drink of my cup.”

It is made a question how the sons of Zebedee, James, and John, did drink the cup of martyrdom, seeing Scripture relates that James only was beheaded by Herod, while John ended his life by a peaceful death. [Acts…

The Lord therefore commends their faith, in that He says that they are able to suffer martyrdom together with Him; but, “To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but for whom it is prepared of my…

But to me this seems not so. Rather the names of them that shall sit in the kingdom of heaven are not named, lest that, if some few were named, the rest should think themselves shut out; for the kingdom of heaven is…

Or otherwise. That seat seems to be unapproachable to all, not only men, but Angels also; for so Paul assigns it peculiarly to the Only-Begotten saying, “To which of the Angels said he at any time, Sit thou on my…

Or otherwise; “It is not mine to give to you,” that is, to proud men such as you are, but to the lowly in heart, “for whom it is prepared of my Father.”

Or otherwise; The Lord makes answer to His disciples in His character of servant; though whatever is prepared by the Father is also prepared by the Son, for He and the Father are one.

Matthew 20:23 and Mark 10:38 share the same wording (10 words).

Matthew 20:23 and Mark 10:39 share the same wording (10 words).

Matthew 20:23 and Mark 10:40 share the same wording (19 words).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 20:20–23 (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Mark 10:35–40 (5) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Mark 10:35–40 (5) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Mark 10:35–40 (5) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.

Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 20:20–23 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 20:20–23 (3) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith V.6.

Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 20:20–23 (Catena Aurea).