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.
Ver. 23. Ye shall drink indeed of my cup] Illud solum quod suavius et limpidius. The saints sip of the top of God's cup; as for the dregs, the wicked shall wring them out, and drink them up.
And be baptized, &c.] Or ducked, washed (not drowned), as St Paul was in the shipwreck; or as the baptized child, which shakes off the water, or is dried after baptism. Afflictions, saith one, are called baptism, because they set God's mark upon us (as baptism doth) that we belong to God; this for outward afflictions. And for desertion, it is called Christ's cup, because we are sure to pledge him in that too, and be conformed unto him, as was Job, David, Heman,Psalms 88:1,18, &c. Grace is no target against affliction; but the best shall have terrors within and troubles without, as sure as the coat is on their back or the heart in their belly.
Is not mine to give] i.e. It is no part of my present office; or, I have no such commission from my Father to give precedencies to all that affect them. Christ hereby seeks to raise up the low grovelling spirits of his apostles to things supernatural, supernal.