BURKITT : | Mr 10V1-12 | Mr 10V13-16 | Mr 10:17 | Mr 10:18 | Mr 10:19 | Mr 10:20 | Mr 10:21-22 | Mr 10:23-27 | Mr 10:28-31 | Mr 10:32-34 | Mr 10:35-41 | Mr 10:42-45 | Mr 10v46-52 | KJV
Reference
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. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 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 said 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. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. (Mark 10:35-41 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. The ambitious suit and request of the two apostles, James and John, for dignity and superiority; Grant that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory or in thy kingdom.
Where observe, That by Christ’s kingdom and glory, they understood an earthly, temporal kingdom: for of that sort the Jews did expect the kingdom of the Messiah should be, and the disciples themselves were tainted with the common errors.
Learn hence, That ambition and an inordinate desire for worldly wealth and dignity is a sin very natural and incident to the best of men. Who can wonder to see some sparks of ambition in the holiest of God’s ministers, when Christ’s own apostles were not free from aspiring thoughts, even when they lay in the bosom of our Saviour?
Observe, 2. Both the unseasonableness and unreasonableness of this request made by James and John: Christ speaks of his sufferings to them, and they sue for dignity and great places from him: In optimis non nihil est pessimi. The holiest, the wisest, and the best of men are not wholly free from passionate infirmities. Who could have thought, that when our Saviour had been preaching the doctrine of the cross to his disciples, that they should at the same time be seeking and suing to him for secular dignity and honour, pre-eminence and power! But the best of men are but men; none are in a state of perfection on this side of heaven.
Observe, 3. Our Saviour’s answer to his disciples’ ambitious request, and the course which he takes, to cool their ambition; he tells them, they must expect here, not crowns on their heads, but a cross on their backs; they must first taste of his sufferings before they partake of his glory; and they that suffer most for Christ, shall partake of the highest dignity and glory from him.
Observe, 4. The presumptuous confidence which the apostles had of their own strength and ability for sufferings: Are ye able, says Christ, to drink of my cup? We are able, say the disciples. Alas, poor men, when it came to the trial, they all cowardly forsook him and fled. Those that are least acquainted with suffering are usually the most confident undertakers. See note on Mt 20:22-23.