Matthew 20:23

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.

“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.

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 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.”
KJV
And he saith unto them, Ye 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.
WEB
He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
ASV
He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on [my] left hand, is not mine to give; but [it is for them] for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.
DARBY
[And] he says to them, Ye shall drink indeed my cup, but to sit on my right hand and on [my] left, is not mine to give, but to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.
BLB
He says to them, “Indeed you⁺ will drink My cup, but to sit at My right hand and at [My] left, this is not Mine to give, but [to] [those] for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
ÅB
Han sa til dem: «Begeret mitt skal dere nok få drikke, men å sitte på høyre og venstre side av meg, tilkommer det ikke meg å gi noen; det skal bli gitt til dem som min Far har beredt det for.»
OTB
Han sa til dem: "Dere skal virkelig drikke av mitt beger, men å sitte ved min høyre eller venstre er ikke for meg å gi. Disse plassene er for dem som de er forberedt av min Far."
B1930
Han sa til dem: Min kalk skal I nok drikke; men å sitte ved min høire og ved min venstre side, det tilkommer det ikke mig å gi nogen, men det gis dem som det er beredt av min Fader.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 1:9

    I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.

    Read in context
  • Mark 10:40

    But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 25:34

    Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

    Read in context
  • Acts 12:2

    He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

    Read in context
  • 2 Timothy 2:11–12

    This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

    Read in context
  • Romans 8:17

    And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 2:9

    Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 11:16

    Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

    Read in context