Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Ver. 20. Then came to him, &c.] Then, most unseasonably, when Christ had by the parable been teaching them humility, and now was discoursing of his death and passion, then came these sons of Zebedee to beg a principality in Christ's imaginary earthly monarchy. And this is not the first time of their so foul mistake, so unseasonable a suit to him, or strife among themselves. The leprosy was cured at once in Naaman; so is not corruption in the saints, but by degrees, and at times.
The mother of Zebedee's children] Set on by her two sons, who were ashamed to make the motion themselves (but as good they might, for Christ knew all, and therefore directs his answer to them, Mar 10:35), and she also was not well assured of the fitness of her request, and therefore came courtesying and craving a certain thing; not telling him what at first, as going somewhat against her conscience. And surely her request had been impudent, but that she presumed upon her near alliance to Christ; for she is thought to have been sister to Joseph, who was Pater Christi politicus; the legal father of Christ, and thence her boldness, by reason of her right of kindred by the father's side. And this is some kind of carnal excuse; yet not for her and her sons' folly and vanity, in dreaming of an earthly kingdom, and therein a distribution of honours and offices, as in David and Solomon's days.