(35) And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. (30) And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? (37) They said unto him, Grant unto that we may sit one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. (33) But Jesus said unto them, ye know not what ye ask; can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (39) And they say unto him, We can, and Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: (40) But to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
In addition to the observations made on the relation of this conversation, between CHRIST and the Sons of Zebedee. Matthew 20:20. (which see;) I would only add, that as the petition of James and John plainly prove, they had at that time no knowledge in what CHRIST's kingdom consisted; so it is equally plain that our LORD's answer had no reference in the least to his power, but to the confirmation of the ancient settlements of eternity. In the council of peace before all worlds, CHRIST's kingdom in the persons of his redeemed were all known, and their names numbered in the book of life. And hence, with an eye to this, the Prophet declared, that they should all again pass under the hand of him that telleth them. Jeremiah 33:13. I beg the Reader not to overlook in this passage, as it was in the parallel one of Matthew: the words are in Italic, verse 40, it shall be given to them; which implies that they are not in the original. And if the verse he read without them, the sense will be in exact correspondence with what Jesus saith. John 17:2, that he should give eternal life to as many as the FATHER had given him.