Matthew 20:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When did this happen? It was when the Lord admonished those striving for prominence. As Christ was delivering His judgment upon them, the others did not express anger; instead, they observed their own favor and remained subdued, filled with a sense of shame and respect for the Master. Even if they felt inner turmoil, they did not dare to voice it. Similarly, when Peter presented two didrachmas, although others regarded him superficially, they were not resentful but merely inquired, "Who is the greatest?" (Matthew 18:1). Yet in this instance, when the disciples themselves posed the question, they felt animosity toward them. Even then, their indignation did not emerge until Christ challenged them, stating they could not attain preeminence unless they demonstrated their worthiness for it.

Upon witnessing two of their number being rebuked by Christ, the ten disciples became upset and realized that they too desired similar recognition. The flaws of the disciples were evident, as two aimed to elevate themselves above the rest, prompting envy among the ten towards the two.

The ten apostles did not harbor resentment towards the mother of the sons of Zebedee or the boldness of the woman who made the request, but rather towards her sons. They, lacking an understanding of their own limits, were consumed by an excessive desire for honor. For this reason, the Lord responded to them, saying, “You do not know what you are asking.” It is clear from both the Lord's reply and the apostles’ displeasure that the sons were the ones who instigated their mother to urgently seek significant things on their behalf.

Two individuals sought to elevate themselves over the other ten disciples, leading to jealousy among the ten regarding the two who sought prominence. In this state, they were all flawed, for the Holy Spirit had not yet descended upon them. However, observe their later lives; they became liberated from all earthly desires, uplifting one another and willingly deferring to each other. When Christ granted them greater recognition in the eyes of others, they accepted it without discontent, truly out of their reverence for Him. In contrast, when they themselves sought precedence, it caused displeasure among the others, particularly when they discovered that their request had been overlooked. The Master's response made it clear what they had asked.

Although the other disciples did not overhear this discussion, they quickly discerned its topic. This led to dissatisfaction and murmuring among them, not entirely unjustified given their aspirations for greatness, yet ultimately futile as they were pursuing an unattainable goal. Peter, who held a prominent place among Jesus' followers like the sons of Salome (Matthew 19:27; Mark 10:41-45), had every right to seek distinction but was particularly troubled. However, he never ascended to such a level of sanctity that he wished to dominate his fellow disciples, finding comfort instead in the Master’s assurance that each would be granted a unique throne. This shared discontent among the disciples prompted a profound lesson from the Lord on humility and mutual love.

As the two were seeking worldly gain, the other ten were similarly troubled by their desires. Had these two grasped the spiritual significance of their requests, they would not have sought to be elevated above their companions. Likewise, if the ten disciples had recognized that others were more deserving, they would not have felt disheartened. To pursue elevation over others is indeed a cause for shame; however, to honor another above oneself is truly commendable. What a beneficial illusion, which liberates all humanity from false perceptions! If the apostles had not succumbed to such misguided thoughts, we might not have understood that not every attractive desire equates to true goodness, as such desires can be misleading.

In the meanwhile, He desired to inspire His followers to anchor their hope for salvation and glorification, through the grace of God, in their own righteous deeds. Upon hearing the request made by the sons of Zebedee, the other ten apostles were displeased with the two brothers, harboring resentment for their lofty ambitions. This aspiration for superiority among the apostles resulted in a disturbance of harmony among them. Thus, ambition breeds discord and strife. St. Chrysostom points out the imperfections present in all of them, noting that both those who sought to elevate themselves above the others and those who envied them displayed this flaw. However, he emphasizes that John, although he seeks prominence, continually yields it to Peter in both preaching and performing miracles.

Although the Lord did not explicitly promise to grant the request of the sons of Zebedee, their appeal ignited jealousy among the other apostles, leading to resentment towards James and John. In response, the Lord summoned them to impart a lesson in humility, exemplifying this virtue through His own being.

Teaching on Humility The inquiry made by James and John stirred up resentment among the other disciples. Upon hearing their whispered discussions, Jesus summoned them and said: "You are aware that in this world, the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their high officials exert authority over them (Matt. 20:25); however, My realm is not akin to the kingdoms of this world. Therefore, if anyone desires to enter My kingdom, they must not behave in this manner: whoever aspires to greatness must become the servant of all, and whoever aims to be first must be the lowest, acting as a servant. I did not come into this world to exercise dominion over people or to be served, but to serve and to offer My life as a ransom for many. Thus, you should do likewise.

Upon hearing these words, the request made by the mother of James and John Zebedee became clear. The mention of "ten" refers to the other apostles, aside from the two named. They faced "reviling" due to the ambitious aspirations of these disciples who sought to elevate themselves above their peers. The ten felt envy towards the two who sought positions of honor. Observe how flawed they all were—the ones who wished to claim superiority over the ten, as well as those who harbored jealousy towards them. Yet, consider their later lives, and you will find them liberated from such passions.

The words of the Savior revealed to the sons of Zebedee that they were unaware of the true nature of their request. This exchange, although conducted away from the other apostles, quickly became known among the ten, leading to their discontent and murmuring against those seeking authority, which caused offense. In response to their anger, the Lord gathered them and imparted the foundational principle of Gospel ethics—loving one another with genuine humility. He stated, "Behold, as the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant; and whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.