And he said unto them,
You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
All Commentaries on Matthew 20:23 Go To Matthew 20
Jerome
AD 420
The Lord having concluded by saying, “And shall rise again the third day;” the woman thought that after His resurrection He should forthwith reign, and with womanish eagerness grasps at what is present, forgetful of the future. Except any will say that between the time of the Apostle’s calling, and the suffering of Christ, Zebedee was dead, and that thus hersex helpless, her age advanced, she was following Christ’s steps; for faith never grows old, and religion feels never weary. Her maternal affection made her bold to ask, whence it is said, “She worshipped Him, and desired a certain thing of Him;” i. e. she did Him reverence, requesting that what she should ask, should be granted her. It follows, “He said unto her, whatwouldest thou?” He asks not because He knows not, but that by its very statement, the unreasonableness of her petition might be shewn; “She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit.”.
And no wonder, if she is convicted of inexperience, seeing it is said of Peter, "Not knowing what he said.” .
But to me this seems not so. Rather the names of them that shall sit in the kingdom of heaven are not named, lest that, if some few were named, the rest should think themselves shut out; for the kingdom of heaven is not of him that gives it, but of him that receives it.Not that there is respect of persons with God, but whosoever shall show himself such as to be worthy of the kingdom of heaven, shall receive it, for it is prepared not for condition, but forconduct.Therefore if you shall be found to be such as to be fit for that kingdom of heaven which My Father has made ready for the conquerors, ye shall receive the same. He said not, Ye shall not sit there, that He might not discourage the two brethren; while He said not, Ye shall sit there, that He might not stir the others to envy.
