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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
20
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Despite frequently hearing about His resurrection, these occurrences did not inspire them to be brave. Beyond His death, they were particularly fearful that He might be scolded or beaten. Reflecting on His miracles, such as healing the possessed and raising the dead, they were astounded by the thought that someone who performed such wonders could face such suffering. Consequently, they found themselves in a state of confusion, simultaneously believing and doubting His words, unable to apprehend their meaning. Their understanding was shrouded in such obscurity that the sons of Zebedee approached Him together to discuss leadership. They requested, \\"Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your glory\\" (Mark 10:35-36). You may ask how the evangelist mentions the presence of their mother. Both statements are accurate. They brought their mother along to strengthen their plea and to humble themselves before Christ through her. It is clear that this request primarily originated with them, and their decision to include her stemmed from a sense of embarrassment, as evidenced by the fact that Christ addressed His response to them."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The sons of Zebedee believed that if the Lord traveled to Jerusalem, He would ascend to kingship over the earth, having frequently listened to Him proclaim, \\"Let us go up to Jerusalem.\\" Consequently, they entertained a worldly notion and sent their mother to Him, feeling hesitant to approach Him themselves. However, as Mark recounts, they came to Him discreetly, with James and John drawing near without being seen."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In the Gospel of Matthew, specifically in chapter nineteen (Matt. 19:28), the Lord addressed His disciples, asserting, \\"When the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on the thrones.\\" This statement led the sons of Zebedee, James and John, to mistakenly believe that the throne of glory referred to the royal seat in Jerusalem. Following His previous statement, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,” they did not perceive the impending suffering we have discussed earlier, but rather anticipated the imminent establishment of His kingdom. Their thoughts were reinforced by the expectation that the prophets referred to Christ as the King of Israel. As a result, they were consumed by the ambition for prominence; while they often viewed themselves as more esteemed than others, they were also wary of Peter. So, they approached Christ first, as Mark recounts (Mark 10:35-37), saying, \\"Master, we desire that You would grant us what we ask of You.\\" Jesus responded, \\"What do you want Me to do for you?\\" They requested, \\"Grant us that one may sit on Your right hand and the other on Your left in Your glory.\\" Unaware that their request was inappropriate, they brought their mother to plead on their behalf. Christ engaged with their mother first, both as a man and to unveil their ambitions through her response."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The term \\"Then\\" suggests that, just like in earlier instances (Matt. 16:21 ff., Matt. 17:22 ff.), even Christ’s closest followers did not completely grasp the significance of His teachings regarding His suffering, demise, and resurrection. The phrase \\"The mother of the sons of Zebedee\\" refers to the mother of James and John the apostles, who is known as Salomia (Mark 10:35, Mark 15:40, Mark 16:1)."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The depth of their ignorance is clearly illustrated by the moment when the Lord spoke of His sufferings. Salomia, the mother of His most devoted followers, James and John, approached Him with her sons, humbly bowing and requesting something from Him."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Plea of Salome and Her Sons\\n\\nThey did not grasp the full meaning of the words spoken, yet they remained hopeful that the reign and splendor of their Master would soon arrive. As they envisioned this kingdom, it is likely they believed that as Jesus' closest allies, they would hold significant positions within it. While contemplating these aspirations, Salome, the mother of the apostles James and John, approached Jesus, who was leading the way. Bowing before Him, she made a request. According to the Evangelist Matthew, Salome presented this request alongside her sons, while Mark notes that the apostles themselves came directly to Jesus with the same plea. This apparent inconsistency in the recounting by the Evangelists can be easily understood if we consider that Salome initially proposed the request, followed by her sons’ affirmation and eventual repetition of it to Jesus, indicating their united intent. James and John, along with Peter, were specially chosen by Jesus from all the twelve apostles to witness His transfiguration and to be present at the resurrection of Jairus' daughter. This selection set them apart and led them to believe they would hold esteemed positions in the Messiah’s Kingdom and glory. Motivated by these thoughts, they approached Jesus to ask for elevated places in His realm of glory."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As they traveled, an inappropriate and self-serving request arose from some of the disciples, revealing the limited understanding of the gospel among even those nearest to Him. Salomia, a devoted follower, approached Jesus with her two sons, James and John, seeking a pledge for preferential treatment."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The episode involving the sons of Zebedee, James and John, clearly demonstrated that the Lord’s discussion about the cross was far beyond the understanding of His disciples. Known as the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17), they were among the chosen apostles alongside Peter, granted a special trust by the Master (Matthew 17:1; Matthew 26:37). In their behavior, these apostles exhibited signs of ambition that were not entirely out of character given the circumstances they faced. While the God-Man was burdened with the knowledge of His impending fate in Jerusalem, Salome, the mother of James and John (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1), approached Him with utmost reverence. These apostles believed they could bolster their request by involving their mother, who had previously displayed sincere devotion to the Lord during His time in Galilee, accompanying and serving Him alongside others (Mark 15:40, 41). By sending her to speak for them, as noted by Blessed Theophylact, they aimed to conceal their actions from the other apostles and evade any potential shame.\\n\\nSeeing Salome's intent to make a request, Jesus inquired, \\"What do you want?\\" The caring mother responded, \\"Grant that two of my sons may sit, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your kingdom.\\" Such positions were regarded as the most prestigious, symbolizing close proximity to the king, authority, and power (1 Sam. 20:25; 2 Sam. 2:19). Separating themselves from the rest, James and John approached the Lord and said, \\"Teacher, we ask You to do for us whatever we desire.\\" Though the Lord was aware of their wish, He posed the question, \\"What do you want me to do for you?\\" to reveal their intentions, as noted by St. John Chrysostom, \\"to lay bare the wound and then provide the healing.\\" They reiterated their mother’s plea, saying, \\"Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory.\\"\\n\\nSt. Philaret of Moscow commented on this discrepancy, observing that as Christ approached the fate of His crucifixion, they sought places of honor in His glory. They were asking for a crown at a time of great trial, when they should have been requesting faith to withstand the forthcoming betrayal, rather than striving for closeness to the one who was soon to be abandoned. Their aspiration for elevation, ill-suited to the gravity of the moment, revealed that the apostles had not sufficiently reflected on their own hearts, capabilities, or spiritual condition."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The accounts in Hebrews, Matthew, and Mark depict the request made by the sons of Zebedee, which clearly indicates that the apostles grasped very little of the Lord’s teachings regarding His impending death and resurrection. In Mark's narrative, the request originates directly from the sons of Zebedee, while Matthew notes that their mother made the appeal. This distinction highlights that Mark focuses purely on the essential aspect of the request, whereas Matthew underscores the additional detail that their mother was the one who advocated for them through her sons. Nevertheless, this request still belonged to James and John, and in responding, the Lord directly addresses them, as indicated in Matthew’s account. \\n\\nJames and John appeared to be in a different frame of mind compared to the other apostles, interpreting the Lord’s journey to Jerusalem in an alternative manner. They were likely preoccupied with the Lord's recent promise to the twelve apostles that they would occupy thrones in the kingdom of Christ. Their understanding seemed superficial and earthly, as they envisioned the Messianic kingdom as a terrestrial one. It is possible they anticipated that the Lord was about to establish His reign in Jerusalem and failed to grasp His foretelling of His death. Consequently, they requested that the Lord—who had shown them unique favor—should grant them the privilege of sitting beside Him on the foremost of the twelve apostolic thrones."},{"author-name":"Innocentius of Kherson","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d18072d36d1a976dd2c_Innocentius%20of%20Kherson.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"To highlight the misunderstanding surrounding the discussion of the cross, two disciples, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, displayed signs of a childlike faith. The Lord set them apart from the other disciples, granting them a level of special trust and closeness; only Peter could claim a similar distinction, as he too was honored by the Lord. This prophecy, perhaps not fully grasped, ignited a belief in the hearts of the young disciples that the Master would recognize them uniquely when it came to the allocation of rewards and blessings, particularly after His anticipated reign over the Jewish people. Their mother Salomia, who was accompanying them to Jerusalem for the feast, shared and even fueled these aspirations. Believing that her request (as Salomia was known to the Lord) might not be dismissed, and desiring to obtain a promise from Jesus regarding the future accolades for her children, she sought a private moment with the Lord. Approaching Him respectfully, along with her sons, she expressed her desire to ask for something that was not of great significance to Him but was deeply meaningful and gratifying to her, her sons, and their family. \\"What do you want?\\" the Lord asked. \\"I wish,\\" she replied, \\"to place my sons in Your favor. You are likely to soon assume the throne of David; therefore, according to Your love for them, let one sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your kingdom.\\" In essence, Salomia sought for her children to be positioned immediately after the Messiah in His realm, to be honored not only above all others but also among His closest disciples and companions. The two brothers visibly indicated that their mother's wish mirrored their own desires."}]}
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