Matthew 20:22

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.”

“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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “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.
KJV: But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye 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.
WEB: But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.”
ASV: But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.
DARBY: And Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink the cup which *I* am about to drink? They say to him, We are able.
BLB: And answering, Jesus said, “You⁺ do not know what you⁺ are asking. Are you⁺ able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They say to Him, “We are able.”

ÅB: Men Jesus svarte og sa: «Dere vet ikke hva det er dere ber om. Kan dere drikke det begeret jeg skal drikke?» De sa til ham: «Det kan vi.»
OTB: Jesus svarte: "Dere vet ikke hva dere ber om. Er dere i stand til å drikke det begeret jeg er i ferd med å drikke?" De sa til ham: "Vi er i stand."
B1930: Men Jesus svarte og sa: I vet ikke hvad det er I ber om. Kan I drikke den kalk jeg skal drikke? De sa til ham: Det kan vi.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 22:42
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Read in context
Matthew 26:42
A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
Read in context
Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Read in context
Mark 14:36
“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Read in context
John 18:11
“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
Read in context
Isaiah 51:22
Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God, who defends His people: “See, I have removed from your hand the cup of staggering. From that goblet, the cup of My fury, you will never drink again.
Read in context
Mark 10:38–39
“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
Read in context
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
Read in context