Matthew 20:17-28

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Introduction

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

A Mother’s Request

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If you’ve been here since we were in chapter 16 you’ll notice a couple of repeated elements in our text today. The first element is Jesus’ statement in verses 18-19, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests, and be killed, and on the third day raised. Back in 16:21 Matthew indicated that at that time Jesus began to show his disciples these things, then, again, in 17:22 Jesus tells them that the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.
In chapter 16, Peter objected to what Jesus said, but Jesus rebuked him sharply, saying, “Get behind me Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Then in chapter 17, while no one dared opened their mouth against Jesus, Matthew tells us, nonetheless, that the disciples were greatly distressed.

Headed to Jerusalem

Now, as we read verses 17-19 here in chapter 20 we read much of the same. Jesus says,

18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

When Jesus began telling his disciples these things back in chapter 16 Jesus also turned his ministry focus from Galilee to Jerusalem. And so we see down in verse 29 that Jesus is almost there, that they’re currently near, or in, the city of Jericho. And if you look on a map Jericho is located in the Jordan river valley just to the northwest of the Dead Sea that the Jordan river empties into. Jericho is about 18-20 miles east from Jerusalem which is atop a small mountain range overlooking the Jordan river valley, so when Jesus says that they are going up to Jerusalem he’s not kidding.

Delivered to the Gentiles

Now, if you’re a careful reader you may also notice that this time Jesus provides his disciples with additional details concerning his being “delivered over” to the chief priests to be killed. He also indicates that his death will be carried out at the hands of the Gentiles after the chief priests have handed him over to them. It’ll be a group effort, and as many of you may know the Sanhedrin, or religious leaders in Israel, are under Roman authority which prevents them from carrying out capital punishment on their own, so if Jesus is going to be killed at their hands they’ll have to deliver him over to the Gentiles.

Suffering and crucifixion

You may also notice that Jesus further elaborates upon the nature of suffering that he will encounter in Jerusalem. He says that “they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him” before they kill him. And since we now know that the Romans will play a role in his execution his suffering will also include crucifixion. And if the disciples haven’t made the connection yet, this makes a lot of sense of what he told them back in chapter 10 when he described the cost of discipleship to them, that they would have to be willing to take up their crosses and follow him - he’s going to set an example for them in his own death.

The why behind the what

Now, it’s important to point out that they still don’t understand why this has to happen to Jesus, hence their objection and distress from earlier chapters, but Jesus keeps repeating it as they head south to Jerusalem. And as we make our way through the rest of this text today Jesus will begin to answer that question, so keep that in the back of your mind as we progress.

Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

Now, what’s fairly obvious about the text that follows is that Jesus is continuing to deal with his disciple’s obsession with status and superiority. I feel like I’ve referenced the beginning of chapter 18 half-a-dozen times over the last few months, and yet here we are again. We first see their concern over what status they will have in the kingdom of heaven at the beginning of chapter 18, when the disciples are arguing over who will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And what I think this highlights, is just how important status can be to all of us. Now, I know most of us know that we shouldn’t be concerned with our status, but so often it’s hard not to be driven by it, so we shouldn’t be too hard on the disciples.

We value status

How often are our decisions driven by status? How much importance do we place upon titles, credentials, our careers, how much money we make, the kind of house how we have, or what car or boat we drive? Are we prone to look down at those who don’t have as much as we do, or don’t have the same amount of experience and education, or job title? And I’m not saying that titles, credentials, or what we own aren’t important or don’t serve a purpose, but so often we pursue and hold onto to these kinds things because we want to be seen as intelligent, experienced, wise, important, hard working, or superior in some way. We want to be seen as important and it can feel really good when we move up the ORG chart.
And in a similar fashion the disciples are pursuing just that. They want to position themselves for a superior place in this kingdom of heaven, in fact, they can’t help but think, “well, you know, we’ve given up a lot to follow Jesus, we should get something out of this right?” Which is what Peter blurts out back in chapter 19, in verse 27. And as we saw at the end of chapter 19 they are, in fact, going to have significant authority in the kingdom of heaven. However, what we find out, is that it’s not quite what they’re expecting. The kingdoms of this world don’t function in the same way the kingdom of heaven functions. The nature of this kingdom is fundamentally different, but the disciples don’t get that yet. Which is why we read what follows there in verse 20,

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

The sons of Zebedee, and their mother

Now, before we flesh this out let’s set this up. The sons of Zebedee are two of Jesus’ first disciples, James and John. Back in Matthew chapter 4 Jesus called Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him first, then immediately thereafter we read that,

21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

So James and John leave their father behind to follow Jesus, but apparently not their mother. So much for Peter’s bragging that they had left so much behind to follow Jesus, even father and mother.
And we’ll actually see John and James’ mother again at the end of Matthew. In chapter 27, starting in verse 55, Matthew records for us Jesus’ crucifixion, and he says that,

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

So this is the woman who approaches Jesus with here two sons, James and John.

Sit at your right and left hand

And Jesus asks her what it is that she wants, and she says to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and the one at your left, in you kingdom.” Now, I don’t think it’s too hard to see what she’s requesting, but for the sake of emphasis, the context of her request is for her two sons to be given the highest positions of authority in the kingdom of heaven.
Traditionally, to sit at someone’s right hand was a seat of great honor. In 1 Kings 2:19 King Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, approached the king to make a request, and out of respect to his mother the king bowed and then gave her a seat at his right hand.
In Psalm 110:1, a famous OT text that gives us an incredible picture the Trinity, King David writes this, he says, “Yaweh says to my Adonai (Lord), ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
This was a picture of a king, in this case Yahweh, who says to David’s Lord, “Sit at my right hand.” This psalm is messianic, and it depicts God’s Messiah sitting at the Father’s right hand of power, propping his feet up on footstool that depicts his enemies. The Messiah sits in a position of privilege and authority. In our modern vernacular we might say, the Son is portrayed as the Father’s ‘right hand man.’
This same idea existed in Jesus’ day, even while they had meals together, they would recline on bed-like benches that surrounded a dinner table, leaning back on their sides while they ate, with the host’s ‘right hand man’ to his right and the guest of honor to his left.
And so when the mother of James and John ask that they sit at Jesus’ right and left hand, she’s basically trying to ensure that her two sons will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. She’s going to settle this argument the disciples were having back in chapter 18 of who’s the greatest.

Get in on the ground floor

Now, I don’t think that these men came unwilling, or that their mother somehow dragged them before Jesus, because in Mark’s Gospel account of this same story he indicates that they were very much involved in making the request. Mark says that they made this request together.
I can only imagine what’s running through their minds while Jesus goes from place to place preaching about his kingdom, and then, suddenly, they take a turn toward Jerusalem, the city of Israel’s great kings. Jesus starts telling them that the end is coming, and though they have no clue was that really entails, they realize they had better get in on this thing at the ground floor with Jesus and take advantage of what’s about to happen. They better not miss out on their opportunity to be generals in Jesus’ kingdom.

Don’t know what they’re asking

But Jesus responds to their request and tells them that they have no idea what they’re asking for. Verse 22 says,

22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

First, are you even able to to drink the cup that I'm going to drink? And second, it’s not my call to grant your request, those positions of authority are for those whom it has been prepared by my Father in heaven.
Now, cups often represent wrath and judgement in the Bible, but in this case it represents the suffering that Jesus is about to endure in Jerusalem, and so he asks them if they’re up to the task to drink that cup. Is the suffering and persecution that Jesus mentioned earlier, the mocking, the flogging, the spitting, even crucifixion, something they’re prepared for?

Cup of suffering

I doubt they even understood what Jesus was asking them, but they reply, without hesitation, “Yeah, we’re able.” And despite their ignorance Jesus tell them, yes, you will drink this cup, but what you ask isn’t up to me. In other words, yes, following me will entail suffering. remember when I told you that unless you’re willing to pick up your cross and follow me that you cannot be my disciples?
And, of course, we know that this kind of suffering did come to pass in the lives of the disciples, they will share in his suffering. For example, in Acts 12:1-2 we read,

12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.

then in Revelation 1:19 his brother John writes,

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Church history records that because they were unsuccessful in killing John they imprisoned on the island of Patmos.

Unrighteous indignation

Now, listen to how their fellow disciples respond in verse 24,

24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

They’re offended that James and John would be so presumptuous. Not because of righteously indignant, but because they’re jealous of the two brother’s request. Don’t forget what happened back at the beginning of chapter 18, when the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Their pride has lead to fierce competition between them, so Jesus keeps correcting their thinking and behavior, to show them that in the kingdom of heaven there is no place for such presumption, envy and competition. Which is why Jesus continues there in verse 25,

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus says that while Gentile leaders lord their authority over others, those having authority in the Kingdom of heaven serve others. That whoever would be great among them would be a servant.

Those in authority serve

And this demonstrates one of the fundamental differences between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of heaven. In earthly kingdoms, those in authority are served, but Jesus, the ruler of heaven and earth, came to serve, he came to give his life as a ransom. The one who deserves to be served came to serve. (David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, p. 272)
Now, this doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t over us, or isn’t to be feared and obeyed, or that we get to tell him what to do, but it does mean that in God’s economy those in authority serve, and that Jesus gives us what we need. To serve is essential to those in authority within the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus himself sets this example for us. Having authority isn’t about stepping on other people, being served, or being more important, authority within the kingdom of heaven is intended to be a privileged position of service.

To be great is to serve

This is what authority is supposed to look like in our homes, husbands. This is what authority is intended to look like within our churches, elders. Those in places of authority are intended to serve and protect those whom they are over, not to lord it over them for their own advantage.
And it’s because of the latter that many around us despise authority, they don’t want it in their homes, in their churches, or anywhere else. It’s why most unbelievers despise the idea of husbands having authority over their wives, because they believe that authority will be used to lord it over them, or that the idea of authority implies a kind of superiority. If you’re a husband I sure hope that isn’t the case. We as husbands do not have license to be harsh with our wives, in fact, just the opposite, we are commanded to love our wives as Christ loves the church.
Now, in the world it’s true that authority often leads to abuse and levels of perceived superiority, but in the kingdom of heaven, nothing could be further from the truth. Last week when we looked at the parable of the laborers, and the central motif was that all of the laborers were paid the same amount. The landowner paid everyone the same no matter how long they worked, but those who had worked longer grumbled because the landowner had made the others equal to them. They were mad that they weren’t superior to those who hadn’t worked as hard and as long as they had. Similarly, the disciples wanted a position greater than anyone else in the kingdom of heaven, they didn’t want to be equals with anyone else, but Jesus corrects them, repeatedly, and teaches them that this isn’t how the kingdom of heaven works. That, instead, whoever would become great among them must become their servant.

Jesus the example

And Jesus sets this example for us doesn’t he? Verse 28 says,

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And it’s because of Jesus’ humility that we can have the gift of eternal life. While some of us look at this text and nod our heads in acknowledgement of how the Gospel is beautifully explained and pictured here, for the disciples this would have been monumental, or at least it should have been. Up to this point, the only thing they’ve been told is that Jesus must be delivered up, suffer, die and rise again, and they have no clue why. As far as they’re concerned this is crazy talk. He hasn’t given them much more than that, no reasoning or understanding yet behind this reality, but in verse 28 we get an incredible glimpse into the heart of the Gospel, at the heart of the good news. Jesus is preaching and teaching about this Gospel of Kingdom, but the good news isn’t found merely in its coming, the good news is that you and I can enter in, and be made citizen of it. But how can this be for sinners like us?
Well, it happens by a substitutionary atonement. The wrath we deserve is borne by a substitute, the Son of God. Jesus gives his life as a ransom, or as a payment, offered to God himself for our redemption, for our salvation. The sin that would keep us outside the kingdom of heaven, and prevent us from entering in, has been paid for by the substitutionary death of God’s own Son. He bore the wrath for our sin instead of us.

Substitutionary Atonement

The end of verse 28 which reads, ‘to give his life as a ransom for many,’ could also be rendered, ‘to give his life as a ransom in the place of many.’ Jesus’ died for you not merely as a loving sentiment, but he died instead of you. (David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew). This is the essence of what we call substitutionary atonement. The way he pays the penalty for our sin is by dying in our place, and bearing the wrath our sin deserved. And it’s hard not to wonder if Jesus had in mind Isaiah 53 when we said this, because the prophet says this about about the coming Messiah in verse 6,

6  All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

then in verses 10-11,

10  Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Conclusion

This is the glory of the Gospel, and for the first time in Matthew’s book we see in verse 28, the Gospel of the kingdom beginning to be unveiled as Jesus marches on to Jerusalem, to be delivered up, and to give his life as a ransom. And whether his disciples realize it or not, they can know why it is that Jesus must go to Jerusalem, to suffer, to die and be raised on the third day, to save them from their sins.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise you for our salvation. We are in awe of the humility of your Son, that he was willing to take on flesh and serve our greatest need, atoning for our sin. Willing to subject himself to persecution and untold suffering, willing to be put to death at the hands of wicked men, willing bear your just wrath for our sin. As you said through the prophet Isaiah, Lord, you laid on him the iniquity of us all, that we might be accounted righteous. That we might partake of this wonderful kingdom of heaven.
Give us courage to endure suffering and persecution, give us the strength and courage to be willing to pickup our cross and follow you, willing even to give up our own lives for your sake.
Guard us against the wickedness of our own hearts, the pride that so easily swells within us. Guard us against the allure of status. Let us not look down upon any of your people, somehow thinking we’re better than another. Let us not consider ourselves and greater than another.
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