Matthew 20:20

KJV

¶ Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G5119} came {G4334} to him {G846} the mother {G3384} of Zebedee's {G2199} children {G5207} with {G3326} her {G846} sons {G5207}, worshipping {G4352} him, and {G2532} desiring {G154} a certain {G5100} thing {G3844} of him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Zavdai's sons came to Yeshua with their mother. She bowed down, begging a favor from him.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

American Standard Version

Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 20:20 presents a pivotal moment where the mother of James and John, traditionally identified as Salome, approaches Jesus with her sons, demonstrating outward reverence while harboring a request rooted in earthly ambition. This encounter immediately follows Jesus' third explicit prophecy of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection, highlighting the profound disconnect between the disciples' understanding of the Messiah's kingdom and the sacrificial reality Jesus was preparing to embrace. The scene sets the stage for Jesus' profound teaching on true greatness, servant leadership, and the nature of His kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed immediately after Jesus' third and most detailed prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem ([Matthew 20:17-19](/matthew/20-17-19 "Matthew 20:17-19 - Jesus' Third Passion Prediction")). The disciples' failure to grasp the spiritual and sacrificial nature of Jesus' mission is starkly highlighted by the mother's request for positions of power and glory for her sons, James and John, in the very next verses ([Matthew 20:21](/matthew/20-21 "Matthew 20:21 - The Mother's Ambitious Request")). This juxtaposition underscores the disciples' persistent earthly mindset despite repeated divine revelation, setting up Jesus' subsequent teaching on servant leadership ([Matthew 20:25-28](/matthew/20-25-28 "Matthew 20:25-28 - Jesus Teaches on Servant Leadership")). The parallel account in [Mark 10:35-37](/mark/10-35-37 "Mark 10:35-37 - James and John's Request") attributes the request directly to James and John, suggesting a family consensus or perhaps the mother acting as their spokesperson.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, the concept of the Messiah was often intertwined with political liberation and the establishment of an earthly kingdom that would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel's glory. Many, including Jesus' disciples, likely envisioned a powerful, earthly king who would dispense positions of honor to His loyal followers. The act of "worshipping" or prostrating oneself before a dignitary or king was a common cultural practice to show respect, loyalty, or to make a petition. Furthermore, family units were tightly knit, and a mother advocating for her sons' advancement was culturally acceptable, especially if she believed it would secure their future and honor the family name within the anticipated new regime. This cultural expectation of an earthly, political kingdom stands in stark contrast to Jesus' consistent redefinition of His kingdom as spiritual, heavenly, and characterized by humility and suffering ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")).
* **Key Themes:** This incident contributes significantly to several key themes within Matthew's Gospel and the broader New Testament. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **Misunderstanding of Jesus' Kingdom**, as the disciples and their families repeatedly struggle to comprehend that Jesus' reign is not one of earthly power and privilege, but of spiritual authority, humility, and self-sacrifice. It also highlights the theme of **True Discipleship vs. Earthly Ambition**, contrasting the human tendency to seek personal glory with Jesus' call to humble service. The mother's request, despite her outward reverence, exposes the deep-seated human desire for status, which Jesus directly addresses by redefining greatness in terms of service ([Matthew 20:26](/matthew/20-26 "Matthew 20:26 - True Greatness is Service")). This passage also foreshadows Jesus' ultimate demonstration of servant leadership through His atoning work ([Matthew 20:28](/matthew/20-28 "Matthew 20:28 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **mother (Greek, _mḗtēr'_):** This word refers to a female parent, highlighting the familial connection and perhaps the protective or ambitious role a mother might play for her children. In this context, it emphasizes that the request comes from a close family member of two prominent disciples, underscoring the pervasive nature of earthly ambition even within Jesus' inner circle.
* **worshipping (Greek, _proskynéō'_):** Literally meaning "to prostrate oneself before" or "to do homage," this term signifies an act of profound reverence. While it can denote adoration given to God, it is also used for showing respect to a king or dignitary. Here, it suggests the mother's recognition of Jesus' authority and status, but the subsequent request reveals that her understanding of His kingship was still primarily earthly, seeking favor rather than fully comprehending His divine, sacrificial mission.
* **desiring (Greek, _aitéō'_):** This verb means "to ask," "beg," or "crave," indicating a direct and earnest request. The use of this word underscores the active and intentional nature of the mother's petition for her sons' advancement, revealing a specific agenda that immediately follows her act of reverence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons":** This clause sets the scene, identifying the petitioners as a family unit closely associated with Jesus' inner circle. The mention of "Zebedee's children" immediately identifies James and John, two of the most prominent disciples, who were part of Jesus' inner circle of three (along with Peter). Their mother's presence suggests either her initiative or a collective family ambition being presented through her.
* **"worshipping [him]":** This phrase describes the initial action of the mother, an act of prostration or homage. It signifies respect, acknowledgement of authority, and perhaps an attempt to gain favor before making a request. The act itself is one of reverence, but its immediate follow-up with a self-serving petition reveals a complex, and perhaps limited, understanding of Jesus' true nature and mission.
* **"and desiring a certain thing of him":** This final clause clarifies the purpose of their approach. The phrase "a certain thing" (Greek: _tì pará_) implies a specific, pre-meditated request. This sets up the dramatic reveal in the next verse, where the "thing" desired is revealed to be positions of honor and power in Jesus' kingdom, starkly contrasting with Jesus' recent teachings on suffering and sacrifice.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs **Irony** by juxtaposing the mother's act of "worshipping" Jesus with her subsequent request for earthly power, immediately after Jesus has foretold His suffering and death. This highlights the disciples' (and their family's) profound misunderstanding of Jesus' kingdom, which is spiritual and sacrificial, not political and power-driven. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** between the disciples' worldly ambitions and Jesus' consistent teaching on humble service and suffering. Furthermore, the scene serves as **Foreshadowing** for Jesus' subsequent teaching on true greatness and servant leadership, which directly challenges the self-serving motives displayed by the mother and her sons, ultimately culminating in Jesus' own example of giving His life as a ransom for many.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This incident profoundly illustrates the persistent human struggle with ambition and the misunderstanding of God's kingdom. Even those closest to Jesus grappled with the concept of a Messiah who would suffer rather than reign in earthly glory. The mother's request, though seemingly pious in its initial "worshipping," exposes a heart still oriented towards worldly status and power, a common temptation that the Gospel repeatedly addresses. Jesus' response to this request (in the verses that follow) serves as a foundational teaching on the true nature of greatness in God's kingdom: it is found not in lording over others, but in humble service and self-sacrifice, mirroring Christ's own mission. This passage therefore calls believers to examine their own motives in seeking God and to align their desires with the values of His kingdom, which prioritize humility, service, and spiritual transformation over worldly prestige.

* [Matthew 18:1-4](/matthew/18-1-4 "Matthew 18:1-4 - Who is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?")
* [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")
* [1 Peter 5:2-3](/1_peter/5-2-3 "1 Peter 5:2-3 - Shepherding the Flock of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 20:20 serves as a powerful mirror for contemporary believers, prompting us to critically examine the motivations behind our own spiritual pursuits and prayers. Do we approach God primarily seeking personal advancement, comfort, or positions of influence, or is our deepest desire to align with His kingdom's values of humility, service, and sacrifice? The mother of Zebedee's children, despite her reverence, reveals a common human tendency to project our earthly desires onto God's divine plan. True discipleship, as Jesus consistently teaches, calls for a radical reorientation of our ambitions, moving from self-exaltation to self-emptying, from seeking to be served to serving others. This passage challenges us to ask ourselves: What "certain thing" are we desiring from God, and how does that desire align with the cross-shaped path of Christ? It encourages us to cultivate a heart that seeks God's glory and the advancement of His spiritual kingdom above all else, trusting that true fulfillment and greatness are found in His will, not our own.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "certain things" do I desire from God, and how do these desires reflect my understanding of His kingdom?**
* **In what ways might my acts of worship or devotion be subtly influenced by personal ambition or a desire for worldly recognition?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of true greatness as defined by Jesus, which emphasizes service and humility over power and prestige?**

### FAQ
**Who was the mother of Zebedee's children, and why did she make this request?**

Answer: The mother of Zebedee's children is traditionally identified as Salome, who is also believed to be the sister of Mary, Jesus' mother, making James and John Jesus' cousins. This familial connection might have emboldened her to approach Jesus with such a direct and ambitious request. Her motivation likely stemmed from a combination of maternal ambition for her sons' success and a common misunderstanding of the Messiah's kingdom. Like many at the time, she probably envisioned Jesus establishing an earthly, political kingdom where her sons, as prominent disciples, would hold high positions of power and honor. Her act of "worshipping" Jesus before making the request was a culturally appropriate way to show respect and seek favor from a king or dignitary, hoping to secure a privileged place for her sons in what she perceived as His coming earthly reign. This reflects the pervasive human tendency to seek status and power, even among those closest to the divine.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 20:20, with the ambitious request of Zebedee's sons' mother, sets the stage for Jesus' profound redefinition of greatness, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in His own life and atoning work. While the mother and her sons sought positions of earthly glory, Jesus immediately pivots to teach that true greatness in His kingdom is found not in lording over others, but in humble service ([Matthew 20:26](/matthew/20-26 "Matthew 20:26 - True Greatness is Service")). This teaching culminates in the declaration that the "Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" ([Matthew 20:28](/matthew/20-28 "Matthew 20:28 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")). Jesus Himself is the ultimate embodiment of this principle, demonstrating perfect humility and self-sacrifice by laying down His life on the cross. His willingness to suffer and die, rather than to seize earthly power, fundamentally redefines leadership and authority for His followers. Thus, the misguided ambition of the disciples' family ultimately serves to highlight the radical, counter-cultural nature of Christ's kingdom, where the King Himself is the Suffering Servant, and true exaltation comes through the path of the cross, echoing the call for believers to take up their own cross and follow Him ([Matthew 16:24](/matthew/16-24 "Matthew 16:24 - Take Up Your Cross")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:21

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Matthew 8:2

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mark 10:35

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 27:56

Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

Mark 15:40

There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

Matthew 2:11

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.