“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.”
My Notes
What Does Matthew 20:21 Mean?
The mother's request is revealed: she wants her two sons seated at Jesus' right and left hand in His kingdom—the two most powerful positions available. She's asking Jesus to guarantee her sons the VP slots in His administration. The right hand was the position of greatest honor, the left hand the second greatest.
Jesus' response—"Ye know not what ye ask"—reveals that the seats at His right and left don't represent what the mother imagines. In the immediate narrative context, the positions at Jesus' right and left will be filled not by honored rulers but by two criminals on crosses (Matthew 27:38). The seats of honor in Jesus' kingdom look nothing like what the mother is picturing.
The request exposes a common confusion: assuming that Jesus' kingdom operates by the same power dynamics as earthly kingdoms. The mother is thinking in Herod's categories—thrones, positions, power—and Jesus is thinking in cross categories. The greatest in His kingdom aren't the ones on the thrones. They're the ones on the crosses.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What 'position' have you been asking God for that might look completely different from what you're imagining?
- 2.If the seats at Jesus' right and left are crosses, not thrones, how does that change what you're asking for?
- 3.Have you been thinking about spiritual greatness in worldly categories—power, position, prominence? How does Jesus redefine it?
- 4.The mother wanted the best for her sons. Are you asking God for the right thing in the wrong framework?
Devotional
"Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left." She's asking for the two best seats in the kingdom. First and second in command. The highest positions available. Her sons, elevated above everyone else.
Jesus says: you don't know what you're asking. Because the positions at His right and left hand—the ones she's picturing as thrones—will be filled by two thieves on crosses. The seats of honor in Jesus' kingdom don't look like the seats of honor in any other kingdom. They're not thrones. They're crosses.
This moment is painfully relatable for anyone who has asked God for something and imagined it in completely the wrong terms. You're asking for glory and He's offering a cross. You're asking for a throne and He's pointing to a towel. You're asking for the highest position and He's describing the lowest service. The request isn't wrong—it's misframed. You're thinking in the world's categories. Jesus is thinking in kingdom categories. And those two sets of categories have almost nothing in common.
If you've been asking God for elevation—for position, prominence, influence—consider what those things look like in His kingdom. The right hand seat isn't a throne room. It's a cross. The greatest isn't the most powerful. It's the most servant. Jesus doesn't rebuke the desire for nearness to Him. He reframes what nearness actually costs.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
But Jesus answered, and said,.... To her two sons,
ye know not what ye ask. They were ignorant of the nature of…
See also Mar 10:35-45. Mat 20:20 Then came to him give mother of Zebedee’s children ... - This was probably Salome, Mar…
may sit, the one on thy right hand Cp. for the thought ch. Mat 19:28.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture