Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 10:35-36

"And there come near unto him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto him, Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?" — Mark 10:35-36 (ASV)

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to Him, saying, "Master, we would that You should do for us whatever we shall desire." And He said to them, "What would you that I should do for you?"

Our Saviour's question suggests to us the prudent lesson: never to promise in the dark. If anyone should say to you, "Promise that you will do whatever I ask," follow the example of Christ and first ask, "What would you that I should do for you?" Otherwise, you may entangle yourself with your own words. These young men evidently needed to have this question put to them, for they had not themselves thoroughly considered what they were asking their Lord to do for them.