The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 20 Part 9 Pride And Ambition Must Be Addressed

I have a prayer request.

God is sending this blog around the world, to about 200 different nations on 6 continents, and this is the Lord's doing. 

God tells us His Word will not return void if we are faithful to share it with other people (See Isaiah 55).

Almost every nation involved in current wars is home to people who read God's Word through this blog.

Thus, though I am in America and separated by a great distance from those wars, it is still very personal for me, because I know that some of our Readers are near or in the middle of major conflicts.

I ask that each one of us will pray that God will use His Word to save people from all nations, all societal backgrounds, all races, all ethnicities.

We must remember God wants all people to come to repentant faith in Jesus Christ (See 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

We must remember that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation for all who repent and believe.

I ask that we pray for God to reach souls for Christ and His kingdom, for His glory and their ultimate good.

I ask that we pray for the safety of all civilians and families who are caught between opposing forces.

True peace will only come when the Father in heaven sends His Son, Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom so that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 20:20-21  Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 

This text teaches us that even Jesus' disciples were not immune from pride or vying for superiority at times.

They were people just like you and me, subject to a will, emotions and a body corrupted by sin.

God knows this and this is why we need a new heart and a new spirit from Him (See Ezekiel 11:19-21; 36:24-32). 

This is why Christ will give us a new, glorified body that is fitted for heaven and His presence (See 1 Corinthians 15:39-49; Philippians 3:21).

What is happening in this account?

The mother of Zebedee's sons came with her sons worshipping Jesus, so this part or the narrative is good.

Matthew 4:21-22  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 

James and John were the two sons of Zebedee called to follow Jesus into gospel ministry. 

When Jesus called them, they gave up everything and followed him. 

They set aside family and vocation to become Christ's disciples.

Peter, James and John would be mightily used by God as apostles, preaching the gospel and guiding the New Testament church during its formative years.

However, the last words of verse one tell us that their mother "desired a certain thing" of Jesus, and this is where Matthew's narrative begins exposing pride and ambition.

Mark 10:35  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. 

Matthew 20:21  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 

Mark's gospel adds some context to this narrative. He tells us that James and John came to Jesus asking Him to grant whatever request they might ask of Him.

Their mother accompanied James and John to see Jesus, and made the request as if it were her own request.

Jesus knew the origin of this request and immediately addressed Himself to James and John, who were standing by.  

These two disciples heard what Christ said about His disciples sitting on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

They heard what Jesus said about His resurrection and wrongly concluded that Christ's kingdom was about to be established.

Therefore, they were jockeying for prominent positions in His kingdom.

Again, their motives were fueled by pride and ambition, which are traits in His children that God is always against.

Now their request is out in the open. 

James and John want to have a throne on the right hand and left hand of Jesus when He rules and reigns as King of kings.

Matthew 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 

Jesus replied to James and John "Ye know not what ye ask" because they were still ignorant that Christ's kingdom is first a spiritual kingdom.

His disciples had grown up seeing religious leaders fight for power and prominence and they saw Roman rulers do the same thing.

Thus, their request is rooted in sinful pride and ambition.

Jesus asked them if they thought they were able to drink of the cup He would have to drink and be baptized with death on the cross as He was going to face.

The sufferings of Jesus Christ were beyond the sufferings of anyone ever born and we will read about them as we get closer to the time of His suffering, death, burial and resurrection.

Matthew 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

The cup Jesus had to drink was filled with unimaginable pain, overwhelming grief and the deadly poisons of all our sins.

This is why Jesus prayed to His Father if there was any other means of obtaining salvation for sinners, that this cup of woe and dread might pass from Him.

Each time, Jesus ended His prayer saying "Not my will, but thine be done."

Matthew 20:23  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. 

Jesus spoke with the foreknowledge of God and said that James and John would indeed suffer for the sake of His name and gospel.

However, their sufferings could not compare to the sufferings of Christ, who came as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

James would be beheaded by the sword (See Acts 12:2). 

John suffered many things for Christ but lived to an old age while banished to a penal colony on the Isle of Patmos.

Jesus made it clear that to sit on His right hand or left hand was subject to the Father's will. 

Jesus also said that those thrones are prepared for those individuals whom the Father will choose.

Matthew 20:24  And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 

Predictably, when James and John's ambition was made known, the other ten disciples were very upset because of their prideful scheme.

They were very displeased with James and John.

Matthew 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 

Jesus immediately corrects the wrongness of James and John's request and of the other ten disciples angry response.

Ambitious plans, pride driven agendas or angry reactions have no place in the kingdom of God or in Christ's church.

His disciples knew about political power struggles and religious intrigue through their experience under Roman rule and from the Judaistic priesthood.

Those may be the norm for society as a whole, but they are not part of the community of faith in Christ.

Matthew 20:26-28  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

Jesus taught that any disciples of His who grasped after status, prominence or power must put that aside and become a minister to others.

The word translated "minister" is contained in the word "deacon" and means that they must be willing to wash feet, wait on tables, bringing food and drink and removing dirty dishes (See Acts 6:1-7)..

This position of ministering to others indicates a humble subjection to others and this must motivate any service that we render to Jesus.

Then, Jesus used the word "chief" which refers to those who think they must be first in all things.

His disciples who are ambitious and want to be first, must become a "servant" to others.

The word translated "servant" is the Greek word used for a slave.

In this context, a slave is one who gives himself up to do another’s will and whose service is used by Christ advance His kingdom.

A "slave" of Christ willingly gives up any rights or claims to his or her life in order to follow and serve Jesus with their whole heart.

Jesus gave Himself as the perfect and supreme example of what it means to be a servant of others.

He came to earth to fulfill God's law on our behalf, to endure the righteous wrath of God for our sins upon Himself, and to die in our place, receiving the wages of our sins.

Proverbs 6:17-19  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

King Solomon was blessed with wonderful wisdom from God. 

The Holy Spirit moved the king to tell us about seven things that God hates, that are detestable to Him.

In Matthew's narrative about James and John, we see that three of those seven things influenced their request of Christ.

A proud look reminds us that they were prideful seeking to advance themselves above the other ten disciples.

Their ambitious request was devised by a wicked imagination and was not at all aligned with the teachings of Jesus.

The impact of their pride and ambition was to cause or sow discord among their brethren, the other ten disciples.

What is pride?

Pride is when we place ourselves above God and where we refuse correction from God. 

Pride causes us to view ourselves as superior to others.

Pride is the soil in which many other sins grow and thrive.

Proverbs 16:18-19  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

Pride precedes destruction and a prideful, arrogant spirit will precede someone's downfall.

King Solomon tells us we are far better off to have a humble spirit and lowliness of mind like Jesus than to associate with those who are fueled by pride (See Matthew 11:28-30).

Proverbs 16:5  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 

Proverbs 15:25  The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 

God will judge those who are proud and wicked. They will not escape His judgment, even if they join forces against Him.

He will ultimately destroy their houses and erase their heritage.

James 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

Thus, James who was fueled by pride and ambition, could write later and tell us that God resists the proud.

He had to learn this lesson in order to humbly follow Christ and serve others.

God gives grace to the humble, to those who confess their sin of pride and seek cleansing from Christ.

1 Peter 5:5-6  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

Peter had his moments of prideful impulsiveness and he had to learn this same lesson (See Matthew 26:33; John 13:8; Luke 22:33).

Therefore, the apostle tells us that we must be subject to one another as Christians, and clothed with humility.

Peter echoed James in saying that God resists the proud but He gives more grace to the humble.

Therefore, we must humble ourselves under God's mighty hand, that He may lift us up at the appropriate time.

Psalm 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 

The Psalmist declared that the Lord draws close to those whose hearts are broken by sin and whose spirits are contrite before Him

When we acknowledge our sins God will help us but when we refuse to confess and forsake them, He will be against us.

Psalm 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

King David's great Psalm of confession regarding his sin with Bathsheba tells us what God wants to see in us.

He wants us to be broken by our sin so that we call out with repentance and seek His grace and mercy.

A contrite heart is one that has been crushed by the circumstances of life, like stones being crushed into powder.

God will turn and help those whose hearts are humbled and whose spirits are contrite before Him.

Isaiah 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

The promise of God is that He will give grace to the humble.

In this text, Isaiah tells us that God is pleased to dwell with us in close communion when our spirit is contrite and our heart is humble.

What will He do for us?

He will revive us, meaning that if we were spiritually dead, He will give us new life in Christ (born again)

If we know Him as Lord and Savior, He will revive our heart and spirit when we become weary in well doing.

Let each one of us examine ourselves for pride and ambition. 

If we discover that we are guilty of either sin, let us confess it to the Father who will cleanse us from our sin by the blood of Jesus (See 1 John 1:7-9).

Please pray for one another, and remember those who are directly impacted by war.

Bob