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In this lesson:
Salome has a request (20:20-23). Jesus on true greatness (20:25-28). Jesus heals the blind (20:29-34). Remember, Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem and the cross. One of God's truths: To be great, you must serve others (20:26). |
Salome asks Jesus for a favor (20:20).
By an unknown artist. |
Who was -
Salome - Salome was the mother of the disciples James and John (Mark 10:35). She was the wife of Zebedee and the sister of the Virgin Mary, making her Jesus' aunt. Salome was a devoted follower of Christ and, as we see in this passage, she asked Jesus for a favor.
On the day of the crucifixion, when most of Jesus' disciples went into hiding, Salome walked to Calvary and stayed with Mary until the agonizing end (Matthew 27:54-56; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49; John 19:25). Three days later, she visited Jesus' tomb to anoint His body and found the empty grave (Mark 16:1-8).
Not to be confused with Salome, the daughter of Herod Philip and Herodias, who asked for the head of John the Baptist.
Salome - Salome was the mother of the disciples James and John (Mark 10:35). She was the wife of Zebedee and the sister of the Virgin Mary, making her Jesus' aunt. Salome was a devoted follower of Christ and, as we see in this passage, she asked Jesus for a favor.
On the day of the crucifixion, when most of Jesus' disciples went into hiding, Salome walked to Calvary and stayed with Mary until the agonizing end (Matthew 27:54-56; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49; John 19:25). Three days later, she visited Jesus' tomb to anoint His body and found the empty grave (Mark 16:1-8).
Not to be confused with Salome, the daughter of Herod Philip and Herodias, who asked for the head of John the Baptist.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 20:20-34
Jesus came to serve 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. 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? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but 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 of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. |
Margin notes:
"The mother of Zebedee's children." (20:20) -This is Salome, Jesus' aunt and the mother of the disciples James and John. "Worshipping him." (20:20) - Salome knelt before Jesus. "Desiring a certain thing." (20:20) - "Wanting a certain favor." "Grant that these my two sons may sit..." (20:21) - "Promise that my two sons..." See "Today's Question" number one below. "Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?" (20:22) - Jesus is referring to His upcoming martyrdom. The cup represents the suffering He will endure (Matthew 26:39; 26:42). "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup" (20:23). Jesus is telling James and John that they will suffer for their faith. Soon, just as Jesus said, James will die at the hand of Herod (Acts 12:2), while John will endure a lifetime of persecution and be exiled to a Roman penal colony on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). "To sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give." (20:23) - God will make that decision. "When the ten heard it." (20:24) - "When the other ten disciples heard it." "Against the two brethren." (20:24) - "Against the two brothers." "Princes of the Gentiles." (20:25) - "Leaders of the Gentiles." "They that are great exercise authority upon them." (20:25) - In this world, civil leaders have authority over others. But Jesus prizes those who serve, not rule. "Let him be your minister." (20:26) - "Let him be your servant." Jesus reinforces His teaching on serving in verse 23:11 and again in Mark 9:35 and 10:43. When Jesus repeats a teaching, you know it's important. "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (20:27) - "Whoever wants to be first among you must be your servant." Jesus is repeating this message from verse 18:4. "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." (20:28) - Jesus came to humble Himself and serve mankind. He proved this by washing the disciple's feet in John 13:4-5 and again through His sacrifice on the cross. The Apostle Paul also emphasized the importance of serving others in 1 Corinthians 9:19. "Give his life a ransom for many." (20:28) - The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ransom as freeing someone "from captivity or punishment by paying a price." To atone for our sins, Jesus substituted His life for ours. In other words, as our servant, Jesus ransomed us (1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19) by taking the punishment for our sins as prophesied in Isaiah 53:4-5 and 53:10. Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf is God's gift of salvation. All we need to do is accept God's gift. "Immediately their eyes received sight." (20:34) - This was not the first time Jesus gave sight to the blind (Matthew 9:27-31). |
New Living Translation
Matthew 20:20-34
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
21 "What is your request?" he asked.
She replied, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."
22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?"
"Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"
23 Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."
24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.
28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.
30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
31 "Be quiet!" the crowd yelled at them.
But they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, "What do you want me to do for you?"
33 "Lord," they said, "we want to see!"
34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
21 "What is your request?" he asked.
She replied, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."
22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?"
"Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"
23 Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."
24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.
28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.
30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
31 "Be quiet!" the crowd yelled at them.
But they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, "What do you want me to do for you?"
33 "Lord," they said, "we want to see!"
34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (20:32-34)
Today's Questions:
1. What did Salome want for her two sons, James and John? (20:20-21)
2. Why is Jesus called "the Son of David?" (20:30)
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1. What did Salome want for her two sons, James and John? (20:20-21)
2. Why is Jesus called "the Son of David?" (20:30)
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Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. Salome wanted her two sons James and John, to hold positions of honor and authority in Jesus' kingdom (20:21). She probably remembered Jesus' promise in verse 19:28 that His disciples would sit on thrones of glory. She wanted her sons to sit in the most prominent positions, next to Jesus. Her request upset the other disciples (20:24). You can read more in Mark 10:35-45.
Salome probably remembered Jesus' promise in verse 19:28 that His disciples would sit on thrones of glory. She wanted her sons to sit in the most prominent positions, next to Jesus.
2. Jews commonly referred to the promised Messiah as the "Son of David" because, as prophesized in Isaiah 9:6-7 and
Jeremiah 23:5-6, He would come from the royal lineage of King David. This explains why the opening verses of Matthew give Christ's genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17). They prove to Matthew's Jewish audience that Jesus was descended from King David and thus fulfilled the prophecy.
How ironic that two blind men could see what others could not. Their hearts saw what their eyes couldn't.
Application thought for the day:
Jesus' question to the blind men, "What will ye that I shall do unto you" (20:32), can be asked of us today. Are there areas in your life that could use Jesus' touch?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series," published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible," published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version, published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament," published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation," published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible," published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible," published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke