Matthew the apostle wrote how, “Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What do you desire? She said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-three of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus told James and John they, “shall drink of” His “cup” and “be baptized” with His “baptism” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “And he said unto them, You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with”. Matthew began with the words, “and he said” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” which means “to James and John”, “you shall drink indeed” or “James and John would certainly receive into their souls what serves to refresh, strengthen and nourish unto life eternal” “of my cup” which means “pertaining to Jesus' drinking vessel which depicts one's lot or experience whether joyous or adverse in diverse appointments whether favorable or unfavorable”, “and be baptized” or “and be dipped repeatedly, immersed and submerged” “with the baptism” which means “with the dipping repeatedly, immersion and submersion” “that I am baptized with” or “that Jesus was to be dipped repeatedly, immersed and submerged”. Matthew shared how Jesus told James and John they would experience and endure the “cup and baptism” of suffering that He was to experience.
The verse goes on to say, “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” Matthew continued with the word, “but” or “nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and” “to sit” which means “to be seated” “on my right hand” or “at Jesus' right hand side which is the place of honor or authority”, “and on my left” which means “and at Jesus' left hand which depicts a good name and good omen”, “is not mine” or “is not Jesus'” “to give” which means “to grant, supply, furnish and deliver”, “but” or “moreover and” “it shall be given” or “it will be granted, supplied, furnished and delivered” “to them for whom” which means “to the certain one that” “it is prepared” which means “the right and left hand are made ready and fit” “of my Father” which refers to “belonging to Jesus' Father in Heaven which is God”. Matthew wrote how Jesus said it is God's position to decide who sits on Jesus' right and left hand of authority and good name.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus confirmed that James and John would face suffering and trouble because of their faith and trust in Him. He also knew that God alone would choose who will be seated in the positions of authority at Jesus' right and left hand. God wants every person to come into a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and when they do, suffering and difficulties may be in their future, but God's authority in heaven awaits them.
Next time Matthew writes,, “when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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