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MATTHEW 20:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 20:20Matt 20:22
“And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.”
And he said to her: what do you want? She said to him: say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom. The request — right hand and left hand positions in the kingdom — is the status-seeking that the Community Discourse addressed (Matthew 18:1–4) and the first-last parable challenged (Matthew 20:1–16). The in your kingdom communicates that the disciples still understand the kingdom in terms of political hierarchy and privilege.

Church Fathers on Matthew 20:21

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.

Jerome · 4th century

This mother of the sons of Ze bede e is Salome, as her name is given by another Evangelist, [marg. note: Mark 15, 40; 16, 1] herself truly peaceful, and the mother of sons of peace. From this place we learn the eminent merit of this woman; not only had her sons left their father, but she had left her husband, and had followed Christ; for He could live without her, but she could not be saved without Christ.

Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

e was dead, and that thus her sex 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.

Bede · 8th century
Read all 28 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 20:21 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy