Matthew 20:20

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

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}.

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

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

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

Matthew 20:20 introduces a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, immediately following His third detailed prophecy of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Here, the mother of James and John, traditionally identified as Salome, approaches Jesus with her two sons.

Context

This verse sets the stage for a significant teaching moment. Just prior, Jesus had clearly explained to His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to be betrayed, condemned, crucified, and resurrected (Matthew 20:17-19). Despite this explicit prophecy of suffering and sacrifice, the request that follows reveals a profound misunderstanding of the true nature of the Messiah's kingdom. The family's immediate concern is not with Jesus' suffering, but with their own positions of honor and power in what they still perceived as an earthly, political reign. This account is also paralleled in Mark 10:35-37, where James and John themselves make the request directly.

Key Themes

  • Misguided Ambition: The verse highlights the persistent human tendency, even among those closest to Christ, to seek personal gain and worldly prominence. The mother's act of "worshipping" Jesus is followed by a request for high positions for her sons (Matthew 20:21), indicating a desire for status rather than understanding the sacrificial path Jesus was setting forth.
  • Misunderstanding of Jesus' Kingdom: This incident underscores the disciples' (and their family's) struggle to grasp that Jesus' kingdom was not of this world, nor was it defined by earthly power structures. Their focus was on thrones and authority, contrasting sharply with Jesus' emphasis on humility, service, and suffering for righteousness' sake (John 18:36).
  • The Nature of True Discipleship: This passage implicitly challenges what it means to truly follow Jesus. Is it for personal glory, or for participating in His mission of humble service and sacrifice? This question is answered in the subsequent verses, where Jesus teaches about true greatness being found in service (Matthew 20:26-28).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "worshipping [him]" translates the Greek verb proskyneō (προσκυνέω). This word literally means "to prostrate oneself before," or "to do homage." It can denote reverence shown to a king or dignitary, but also profound worship given to God. While the mother's act certainly shows great respect and recognition of Jesus' authority, the immediate follow-up request for worldly positions suggests her understanding of His kingship was still limited to an earthly paradigm, rather than a full comprehension of His divine and spiritual reign.

Practical Application

Matthew 20:20 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. It challenges us to examine our own motives when we approach God. Are our prayers and acts of devotion truly for His glory and the advancement of His spiritual kingdom, or are they sometimes tinged with personal ambition and desires for worldly recognition or comfort? This verse encourages us to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), understanding that true greatness in His eyes comes through humble service and a willingness to share in Christ's suffering, not through earthly power.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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