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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
22
And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Jesus replied, “You do not comprehend what you are asking” - The mother inquired, and the Lord addressed the disciples, aware that her request stemmed from her sons' aspirations. “Are you able to share the cup that I am about to drink?” They responded, “We are able.” The cup referred to in Scripture symbolizes suffering, as stated in the words, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39). Additionally, the Psalm expresses, “What shall I repay the Lord for all His favors to me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 115:3), and it soon follows by specifying the cup: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints!”"},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When two individuals sought to elevate themselves above their peers, the Lord inquired, \\"Can you drink of the cup that I will drink,\\" illustrating that positions of honor are bestowed based on merit. Consequently, the Apostle asserts, \\"Therefore God also exalted and glorified ... Him\\" (cf. Phil. 2:9), since no one experienced greater humiliation in His essence than Christ, who was divine in nature. The Lord revealed two baptisms: one of water and one of the Cross, using the baptism of suffering to teach about the baptism of water. The repentance of those who have sinned is akin to their crucifixion; it deeply influences their being and restrains them from yielding to their passions, as heralded by John before the Lord. Thus, two baptisms are essential for both the righteous and the unrighteous: the baptism of blood and the baptism of water. The holy father refers to the baptism of blood not only as martyrdom but also as an unwavering confession of Christ and a life lived in accordance with Him; one cannot achieve salvation without the other. If you claim that there are no present-day visible persecutions, I counter that there are hidden ones. Observe the heresy of those who scrutinize everything; this will test your faith. Therefore, proclaim the Lord without doubt. The oppressions from rulers are not more severe than those inflicted by skeptics, and the agony of persecution is not greater than the pain of heresy, the burden of questioning, or the sting of doubt's scrutiny. If hatred confronts you, declare love; if envy attacks, embrace unity; if desire leads you astray, pursue self-control. Thus, if you are wronged by injustice, stand firm in the truth; if you are challenged by the quest for power, proclaim the Lord, the Sovereign of all. All these adversaries assail the martyrs in their own sphere. Because the martyrs have emerged victorious over hidden trials, they receive visible crowns. Strengthen yourself in the unseen, so that you may be fortified to face the visible challenges. For if you succumb to the struggles within, how can you expect to prevail against those without?"},{"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":"Let us first examine their motives and intentions for making their request. What inspired them to ask? They perceived themselves as esteemed in comparison to others, leading them to believe that the Lord would fulfill their desire. As noted by another evangelist, while they were approaching Jerusalem, they believed the kingdom of God was imminent, which prompted their appeal. They perceived the kingdom as something tangible that would shield them from adversity if their request were granted. Their pursuit of the kingdom was not solely for possession but also to escape suffering. Consequently, Christ redirected their thoughts, urging them to anticipate trials, dangers, and severe hardships. He asked them, “Can you drink of the cup that I am about to drink?” It is important not to be discouraged by the apostles' shortcomings, as the crucifixion had not yet transpired, nor had they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. To understand their true virtue, consider their later lives, which demonstrate their rise above earthly passions. The Lord discloses their flaws to illustrate how much they grew upon receiving divine grace. It is clear that they were not seeking anything of a spiritual nature nor were they aware of the higher realm. Now, let us observe how they approached Him and what they expressed. They came to Him, declaring, \\"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask\\" (Mark 10:35). In response, Christ inquired, \\"What do you want me to do for you?\\"—not because He was unaware, but to prompt them to articulate their needs, thereby exposing their true intentions and allowing Him to offer the suitable remedy. However, feeling embarrassed and hesitant due to their human desires, they separated themselves from the other disciples and presented their request discreetly. The evangelist notes that they stepped aside to avoid drawing attention before revealing their wishes. Their underlying ambition appeared to be to attain the most prominent positions, as Christ had promised them, \\"You will sit on thrones\\" (Matthew 19:28). They recognized their advantage over the others, fearing Peter’s status, and thus they urged Him, \\"Let one of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left\\" (Mark 10:37). His response indicated that they lacked understanding of their request; He told them, “You do not know what you are asking” (Mark 10:38), meaning they were oblivious to the magnitude and significance of their appeal. He continued, asking them whether they could endure the cup He would drink and be baptized with His baptism (v. 38). Noting how He immediately redirected their focus, He engaged them in a discussion about different subjects. While they spoke of honor and glory, He highlighted the trials and efforts that lay ahead. He clarified that the time for rewards had not yet arrived, nor was it the moment for His glory to be revealed; the present era was one of death, struggle, and peril. Observe how His inquiry both encourages and draws them in. He did not inquire if they were prepared to die or shed their blood; rather, He asked if they could drink the cup. To entice them further, He indicated, \\"You will drink the cup that I drink,\\" inviting them to share in His experience, thus sparking greater enthusiasm within them. He referenced it as baptism, illustrating that what was to unfold would bring profound purification for all creation."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The cup and baptism are distinct from one another. The cup represents suffering, while baptism signifies death itself. Additionally, baptism can be compared to wool that is dyed: just as wool, originally in its natural state, is immersed in a dye to take on a new color, we descend into death in our physical form and are resurrected as spiritual beings. The apostle teaches, It is sown in corruption, it rises in incorruption; it is sown in humiliation, it rises in glory; it is sown in weakness, it rises in strength; it is sown in the body of the soul, it rises in the body of the spirit (1 Cor. 15:42-44). Indeed, every death is accompanied by suffering, yet not all suffering entails death. Many have endured suffering without facing death, as exemplified by the confessors. They partook of the Lord's cup but did not undergo His baptism.\\n\\nThey replied to Him, We can. This response arose not from confidence, but rather from a lack of understanding regarding the forthcoming trials. For someone unaware, warfare may seem appealing; for the novice, the ordeal of death might appear manageable. However, if the Lord, as He approached His suffering, exclaimed, ‘My Father, let this cup pass me by’ (Matthew 26:39), it is evident that the disciples would likely not have made such a statement had they comprehended the true nature of the trial of death. The anguish that suffering induces is significant, but the dread associated with death is far greater."},{"author-name":"Gregory the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88c2b032f5f6e5effaa54_Gregory%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"They sought a lofty position; the Truth directs them along the path necessary to attain that elevation. It is as if it were stated: \\"The elevated place may already seem appealing to you, but you must first engage with the necessary struggle. True greatness is achieved through trial. If your spirit longs for what brings you joy, you must first partake in that which brings you sorrow.\\" Thus, through the bitter chalice of confession, one attains the joy of salvation."},{"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":"After departing from His mother, the Lord engages the sons in a dialogue to demonstrate His awareness of their influence on her words. He tells them, \\"You do not know what you ask,\\" illustrating that the request they made is tremendous and awe-inspiring, even to heavenly beings. Redirecting their thoughts, He turns their attention to the reality of trials. He inquires not out of ignorance, but rather to encourage them to recognize their own spiritual malady, which is ambition, and to urge them to live up to their vow. It is as though He says: no one can share in My kingdom without also sharing in My sufferings. Therefore, I ask you, are you able to endure such trials? He refers to His sufferings and death as \\"the cup,\\" indicating, on one hand, that these trials are as manageable as drinking from a cup, encouraging us to embrace suffering willingly; and on the other hand, by calling it \\"the cup,\\" He shows that He also embraces death willingly. Moreover, just as one who drinks from the cup may soon succumb to sleep, so too does one who endures suffering eventually experience the slumber of death. He describes His death as baptism, for His passing holds a purifying significance for all humanity. The sons made a commitment without fully understanding its implications, eagerly pledging everything to achieve their desires."},{"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":"Jesus replied, \\"You do not understand the implications of your request.\\" He directed this response solely to His disciples, as they had sent their mother to inquire on their behalf. He continued, \\"The matter of who sits at My right hand or left in My Kingdom transcends not just human distinction, but also the authority of the heavenly realms. My Kingdom is fundamentally not of this world, as you perceive it.\\" Aware that they envisioned a time of both dominion and peace, Christ sought to correct their misunderstanding by emphasizing that it was, in fact, a period marked by sorrow and death. He asked, \\"Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?\\" Here, the \\"cup\\" symbolizes the cup of suffering, while \\"baptism\\" refers to the baptism of His blood; through these terms, He alludes to His impending death—accepting it willingly for the sake of humanity, and using baptism to signify the cleansing it brings. By declaring, \\"I will drink, and I will be baptized,\\" He clearly conveyed that those who do not share in His afflictions will not share in His Kingdom. They responded to Him, indicating their willingness to accept whatever He would give. Chrysostom mentions that their agreement stemmed from a heartfelt yearning, even though they did not fully grasp the significance of \\"cup\\" and \\"baptism.\\" What, then, is the essence of Christ?"},{"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":"\\"Do you not realize what you are asking?\\" suggests that you do not fully comprehend the nature of My kingdom, which leads you to present an unusual request whose implications remain unclear to you; \\"you cannot grasp how strange, how beyond comprehension even to the highest authorities, is what you seek\\" (3Lat., cf. Theophilus). - \\"To drink the cup\\": this phrase frequently appears in Scripture to signify suffering or divine discipline (Is. 51:17-22, Ps. 74:9). The imagery draws from the practice of Eastern monarchs who sometimes delivered a poisoned chalice to those sentenced to death. In this way, it becomes evident that the Heavenly Father also extends the cup of death to His Son, destined for suffering and demise (John 18:11). - \\"To be baptized with baptism\\": this phrase conveys a similar notion of suffering and death. The experience of hardship, affliction, and death in the name of faith is depicted as a type of immersion, purifying the individual much like the waters of baptism. Yet, this expression is exclusively used in this context and in related passages within the Gospels of Mark and Luke, as well as in the aforementioned reference in John (regarding the cup - John 18:11). \\"You speak of honor and crowns,\\" He remarks, \\"but I refer to the trials and toils that lie ahead for you. It is not yet a time for rewards, nor will My glory be revealed now; this present moment is marked by death, conflict, and peril.\\" He emphasizes this point by adding, \\"which I will drink,\\" aiming to stir their zeal through His shared experience (Zlat.). - \\"They respond, 'We can.'\\" Their reply did not stem from a misunderstanding of the Lord's figurative language (cf. Matt. 20:18ff.), but rather \\"in their zeal, they spoke without understanding, hoping to elicit approval for their request\\" (Chrysostom, cf. Theophilus)."},{"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":"JESUS REPLIED, ‘YOU DON’T COMPREHEND THE NATURE OF YOUR REQUEST. You believe My Kingdom is of this earth, yet it transcends worldly boundaries, and My thrones are not of this realm.’ ‘You are unaware,’ states St Chrysostom, ‘of the tremendous heights and the unattainable nature of what you seek from the Most High. You speak of honor and crowns, while I refer to the challenges that await you. This is not the hour of rewards, nor the moment when My glory will be disclosed; the current time is one marked by death and peril. Through His inquiry, He both encourages and draws them in. Instead of asking, ‘Are you prepared to face death? Are you willing to spill your blood?’ He inquires, ‘Will you challenge yourselves first? CAN YOU drink from the cup?’ In order to ignite a desire for this cup within them, and to foster a sense of unity with Himself, He adds: THIS IS THE CUP I WILL DRINK, that cup of suffering that lies before Me. OR can you UNDERGO the same dreadful Baptism of suffering and mortality that I WILL UNDERGO? The baptism of blood that I will pour out on the cross? The Lord referred to His sufferings as a baptism because ‘His death was,’ as St Chrysostom elucidates, ‘a profound purification for the cosmos. In their eagerness, anticipating affirmation of their request, the disciples fail to grasp the full meaning of the Lord's precise words and quickly agree to everything. THEY RESPOND, ‘WE CAN.’"},{"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":"\\"You do not understand what you are asking,\\" Jesus replied to them. He was aware that these very disciples, who now aspired to sit beside Him in the splendor of His kingdom, nearly on par with Him, would abandon Him and flee once His hour of agony arrived. This prompted Him to inquire, \\"Can you partake of the cup of suffering that I am about to consume, of which I have just spoken? Are you able to undergo that fierce baptism of death that I am destined to face?\\" In ancient times, it was customary to offer those condemned to death a cup of poison, so the phrase to drink the cup signified enduring suffering that culminated in death. In response to Jesus's challenging question, the eager \\"sons of thunder\\" declared, \\"We are able.\\""},{"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":"Christ approached their self-serving desires and misconceptions with gentleness. In their ignorance, they sought positions of honor, which, as they would soon witness, were filled in disgrace and agony by two criminals on crosses. Their minds envisioned twelve thrones, while He revealed to them the reality of three crosses. They aspired to earthly glory, yet He spoke of a bitter chalice and a baptism of suffering. Could they share this chalice with Him or endure this baptism? Perhaps with a deeper comprehension of His message, they boldly responded, \\"We can\\"; then He affirmed that they would indeed face the test of their claims, but that those who would sit at His right and left would be determined by the Father in heaven."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"“I am uncertain about what I request,” the Savior gently replied, “are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and to receive the baptism with which I am being baptized?” The imagery of a cup brimming with wine, found in the expressions of ancient prophets, signifies the tribulations appointed by God for the growth of His people (Ps. 74:9; Is. 51:17, 22). Additionally, the Lord alluded to His impending sufferings and death by using the metaphor of baptism shortly before this moment (Lk. 12:50). Thus, the cup of Christ refers to the very chalice for which He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt. 26:39), and this baptism symbolizes, as St. Philaret of Moscow articulated, \\"the baptism through His blood poured out on the Cross.\\" The inquiry posed to the sons of Zebedee compelled them to reflect on whether they could endure the suffering and the crucifixion of Christ rather than the anticipated glory. “You draw My attention to honor and crowns,” the Lord pointed out, “while I emphasize the trials and sacrifices that await you: the moment for reward is not yet here, and My glory will not be revealed now; the time is for death, conflict, and peril” (St. John Chrysostom). Subsequent occurrences demonstrated how unprepared the disciples were to partake of the cup and baptism of the Divine Savior (Mk. 14:50). Yet, filled with zeal, and as the holy father describes, burning with the urge to attain their desires and “not understanding what they spoke,” James and John rushed to respond affirmatively to the Lord's question: “We can.” The All-Knowing One was aware that this response, uttered in ignorance, would eventually come to fruition, and thus, He foretold the fates awaiting both apostles while explaining that heavenly rewards are granted not immediately, but reserved for those who persevere until the end (Matt. 24:13) and conquer all trials and temptations (Rev. 3:21). “The cup which I drink, I drink; and the baptism with which I am baptized, I am baptized; but to sit at My right hand or at My left is not for Me to grant; it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” The beauty of divine justice is not for me to bestow on you out of love without reason; otherwise, I would not be just, but such honor awaits those who earnestly strive (Blessed Theophylact). As Venerable Isidore Pelusiot states, I cannot grant, “to give merely to those who ask without merit, and without rewarding those who labor.” Heavenly honors are destined for all who believe and demonstrate their faith through good works, to be allocated at the Last Judgment by King Christ according to the Father's will, who has entrusted the Son with all judgment (Matthew 25:31–46; John 5:22). Therefore, as St. Basil the Great notes, “it is the responsibility of those who wish to receive the reward to make themselves worthy of sitting at the right hand of the Lord, not the one capable of granting it, even if the request is inappropriate.\\" Sitting at the right hand of the unfathomable majesty of God, as indicated concerning the Lord’s position (Mk. 16:19), according to St. John Chrysostom, is attainable by all—not just humans such as the saints and apostles, but also angels, archangels, and all higher spiritual beings. The Church vividly depicts the structure of salvation in her icons, illustrating the Most Holy Mother of God as Queen and St. John the Baptist, the greatest of all prophets, standing at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty of God."},{"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":"But the Lord responded to them, “You are unaware of what you are asking. If they had realized that sitting at the right and left hand of the Lord during His return to Jerusalem implied sharing in His suffering on a shameful cross, they would not have made such a request in their current state.” “Can you partake of the cup that I am about to drink, or be immersed in the baptism with which I am to be immersed?” James and John, lacking understanding of the deeper significance of the Lord's metaphorical language and simply desiring that He grant their wish, replied, “We are able.” Anticipating that the sons of Zebedee would indeed be equipped to share in His afflictions later on, the Lord acknowledged the truth of their response. However, regarding their request, He stated, “The privilege of sitting at My right hand and My left is not Mine to grant, but belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” God the Father granted the Son the authority to have life within Himself and also the power of judgment, and the Son gives life to whom He chooses (John 5:21-22, 26-27). Therefore, the distribution of rewards in the kingdom of the Messiah is under the authority of the One who organizes that kingdom, Jesus Christ, acting in accordance with the Father's will (John 5:19-20, 30). In this instance, however, the Lord had to withhold this honor; to grant the request of the sons of Zebedee would have offended the other apostles, who were already upset over their companions' ambitious desire (Matt. 20:24, Mark 10:41), while denying the request would have upset James and John. Thus, the Lord provided a response that was not entirely clear. The foundation of James' and John's request stemmed from the belief that Christ held a special affection for them and had drawn them closer than the other apostles. The Lord indicated that their level of glorification in eternal life would not be determined by His personal feelings towards each of them, but rather by what has been prepared by the Father; with the Father, it is determined for each individual what they will receive based on their deeds."}]}
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