Focused Passage

Matthew 20:20-28

The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind

Matthew moves from the parable of equal wages and kingdom generosity, to the first-last reversal, to Jesus’ third passion prediction, to status-seeking by James and John, to Jesus’ teaching on servant greatness, to the climactic ransom saying, and finally to the healing of two blind men who cry to the Son of David for mercy and follow him.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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

21 “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”

22 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered.

23 “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 20

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular mother μήτηρ G3384 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of Zebedee’s Ζεβεδαίου G2199 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural sons υἱῶν G5207 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural came προσῆλθεν G4334 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to [Jesus] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition her αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural sons υἱῶν G5207 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural [and] knelt down προσκυνοῦσα G4352 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction to make a request αἰτοῦσά G154 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular . . . τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular of ἀπ’ G575 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

What Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular do you want θέλεις G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular He inquired εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῇ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular She answered Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Declare Εἰπὲ G2036 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείᾳ G932 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular one εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular of these οὗτοι G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural two δύο G1417 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural sons υἱοί G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural of mine μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular may sit καθίσωσιν G2523 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural at ἐκ G1537 Preposition Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular right hand δεξιῶν G1188 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the other] εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular at ἐξ G1537 Preposition Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular left εὐωνύμων G2176 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Verse 22

Original words

vvv Οὐκ G3756 Adverb You do not know οἴδατε G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you are asking αἰτεῖσθε G154 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Can you δύνασθε G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural drink πιεῖν G4095 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular cup ποτήριον G4221 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am going μέλλω G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to drink πίνειν G4095 Verb - Present Infinitive Active We can Δυνάμεθα G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural [the brothers] answered Λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • BYZ includes or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. TR is similar.
Verse 23

Original words

vvv μὲν G3303 Conjunction You will indeed drink πίεσθε G4095 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - Τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular cup ποτήριόν G4221 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [Jesus] said Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular to sit καθίσαι G2523 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active at ἐκ G1537 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular right δεξιῶν G1188 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural [or] καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ἐξ G1537 Preposition left εὐωνύμων G2176 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb Mine ἐμὸν G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Neuter 1st Person Singular to grant δοῦναι G1325 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active [These seats belong] ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction to those for whom οἷς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural - ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Father Πατρός G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular has prepared them ἡτοίμασται G2090 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • BYZ and TR include and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
Verse 24

Original words

When Καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural ten δέκα G1176 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural heard about [this] ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural they were indignant ἠγανάκτησαν G23 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural with περὶ G4012 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural two δύο G1417 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural brothers ἀδελφῶν G80 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 25

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular called them aside προσκαλεσάμενος G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [and] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular You know Οἴδατε G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural rulers ἄρχοντες G758 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural Gentiles ἐθνῶν G1484 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural lord it over κατακυριεύουσιν G2634 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [their] οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural superiors μεγάλοι G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural exercise authority over κατεξουσιάζουσιν G2715 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Verse 26

Original words

vvv οὐχ G3756 Adverb It shall not be ἔσται* G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular this way οὕτως G3779 Adverb among ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Instead ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction wants θέλῃ G2309 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to become γενέσθαι G1096 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle great μέγας G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular among ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural must be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural servant διάκονος G1249 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 27

Original words

and καὶ G2532 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἂν G302 Particle wants θέλῃ G2309 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active first πρῶτος G4413 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular among ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural must be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural slave δοῦλος G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

just as ὥσπερ G5618 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb did not come ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to be served διακονηθῆναι G1247 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction to serve διακονῆσαι G1247 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to give δοῦναι G1325 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular life ψυχὴν G5590 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [as] a ransom λύτρον G3083 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular for ἀντὶ G473 Preposition many πολλῶν G4183 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.