Matthew - Week 63

Places of Honor 

READ 

Matthew 20:20-21 

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.” 

The thought now shifts from the parable of the farmer and workers to a question asked by the mother of James and John. Jesus graciously asked what her request was. As a proud mother, she wondered if her two sons could sit in the place of honor on His right and left in the kingdom.  

REFLECT 

Had you been the mother of James and John, would you have asked this of Jesus? 

RESPOND 

See Mark 3:17 where Jesus nicknamed James and John the “Sons of Thunder.” They were often in the small circle around Jesus, but they also had tempers. See Luke 9:53-55 to see one time when they wanted to call down fire on those who would not welcome Jesus. John is considered to be the one who wrote the Gospel of John, and referred to by Peter as “the disciple Jesus loved” (see John 21:20). 

The Bitter Cup 

READ 

Matthew 20:22-23 

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.” 

Jesus addressed James and John with His words. He wanted to know if they realized what lay ahead for them. They answered, “Oh yes, we are able.” According to extra-biblical information, it is thought all the disciples except John faced a martyr’s death. John was greatly persecuted and died in old age. 

REFLECT 

Think how serious it was for Jesus to tell James and John they would suffer from His bitter cup.  

RESPOND 

Read Mark 10:39-40 to see Mark’s recording of Jesus’ conversation with James and John. Jesus often took James and John along with Peter, such as when He was transfigured (see Matthew 17:1-3). 

Flaunting Authority 

READ 

Matthew 20:24-25 

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.” 

The other disciples were jealous of James and John for asking their question of Jesus. Then Jesus explained to them why their question about a place of honor was understandable. It was because of the world’s way of thinking about superiority. This reveals how ingrained people become by the values of the world. 

REFLECT 

Give some thought to the way your thinking is influenced by the world around you. 

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer, read Romans 12:1-2 to see how to change your thinking from the world’s viewpoint to the heavenly one.  

Servers and Leaders 

READ 

Matthew 20:26-28 

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 explained how His followers should think differently than the world. Those who wish to be a leader must be a servant. He was the prime example of this because He came to serve others and not to be served. He was willing to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

REFLECT 

Consider all that Jesus did for humanity when He was born into the human race so He could grow to adulthood and give His life as a sacrifice for sin. 

RESPOND 

Share with someone what is said in Philippians 2:3-8 to see the attitude Jesus had that is to be the example for believers. 

Have Mercy on Us 

READ 

Matthew 20:29-31 

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!” 

This is another example of the sick confronting Jesus for healing. They were physically blind but not spiritually blind. They recognized Jesus as the descendant of David. This was more knowledge than shown by the Pharisees and Sadducees. This likely meant the two blind men realized Jesus was the Messiah. They wanted Jesus to have mercy on them. As usual, the crowd wanted them to be quiet, but they cried out even louder.  

REFLECT 

It is not certain how these two blind men knew so much about Jesus. Think how blessed we are now to know about Jesus.  

RESPOND 

Read Luke 4:16-21 to see how Jesus referred to the Old Testament’s prophecies about Himself. See also Luke 24:25-27 to see what Jesus explained to the followers on the road to Emmaus how all the Old Testament referred to Him.