Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 20:20-28

"Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping [him], and asking a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able. He saith unto them, 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. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." — Matthew 20:20-28 (ASV)

The sons of Zebedee misused what Christ said to comfort the disciples. Some people cannot receive comforts without turning them to a wrong purpose. Pride is a sin that most easily ensnares us; it is sinful ambition to outdo others in splendor and grandeur. To counter the vanity and ambition of their request, Christ directs their thoughts to their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk; a cup of trembling, but not the cup of the wicked.

It is only a cup, it is only a drink, bitter perhaps, but soon emptied; it is a cup in the hand of a Father (John 18:11). Baptism is an ordinance by which we are joined to the Lord in covenant and communion; and so is suffering for Christ (Ezekiel 20:37; Isaiah 48:10). Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace; and so is suffering for Christ, for unto us it is given (Philippians 1:29). But they did not know what Christ's cup was, nor what His baptism was. Those are commonly most confident who are least acquainted with the cross.

Nothing causes more trouble among fellow believers than the desire for greatness. And we never find Christ's disciples quarreling without something of this being at the bottom of it. The person who labors most diligently and suffers most patiently, seeking to do good to their fellow believers and to promote the salvation of souls, most resembles Christ and will be most honored by Him for all eternity. Our Lord speaks of His death in the terms applied to the sacrifices of old.

It is a sacrifice for the sins of humankind, and it is that true and substantial sacrifice which those of the law faintly and imperfectly represented. It was a ransom for many, enough for all, effective for many; and, if for many, then the poor, trembling soul may say, "Why not for me?"