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.
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying. Matthew (Matthew 20:20) says their "mother came to Him with her sons, worshipping Him and desiring," etc. (Compare Matthew 27:56, with Mark 15:40.) Salome was her name (Mark 16:1). We cannot be sure with which of the parties the movement originated; but as our Lord, even in Matthew's account, addresses Himself to James and John, making no account of the mother, it is likely the mother was merely set on by them. The thought was doubtless suggested to her sons by the recent promise to the Twelve of "thrones to sit on, when the Son of man should sit on the throne of His glory" (Matthew 19:28); but after the reproof so lately given them (Mark 9:33, etc.), they get their mother to speak for them.
Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire - thus cautiously approaching the subject.