notes
Main point summary
When the sons of Zebedee come to Jesus and request special honor, He teaches His disciples that true greatness comes through serving.
Arc
editing
NT
Matthew 20:20-28
nasb
a Then the mother of b the sons of Zebedee came to 1 Jesus with her sons,
c bowing down
and making a request of Him.
series
actionmanner
And He said to her,
“What do you wish?”
ideaexplanation
She * said to Him,
“Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine a may sit
one on Your right and one on Your left.”
locative
questionanswer
But Jesus answered,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Are you able a to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”
They * said to Him,
“We are able.”
He * said to them,
“ a My cup you shall drink;
but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give,
b but it is for those for whom it has been c prepared by My Father.”
negativepositive
concessive
progression
And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.
a But 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.
It is not this way among you,
a but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
just as a the Son of Man b did not come to be served,
but to serve,
and to give His 1 life a ransom for many.”
comparison
situationresponse
discourse
Phrase
Matthew 20:20-28
A. Setting
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons,
bowing down
and making a request of Him.
B. Request Made
And He said to her,
“What do you wish?”
She said to Him,
“Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit
one on Your right and one on Your left.”
C. The Cup
But Jesus answered,
“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.”
B'. Request Denied
He said to them,
“My cup you shall drink;
but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give,
but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
A'. Conclusion
Indignation
And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.
A. Bad Example - Gentiles
But 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.
B. Be a Servant of All
It is not this way among you,
but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
A'. Good Example - Son of Man
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.”
phrasing