Let Him Be (080623)

Scripture Reading & Title

Turn to and read Matthew 20:20-28.

Title - Let Him Be

Let Him Be

The Desire

Matthew 20:20 KJV 1900

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

Matthew 20:21 KJV 1900

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.

To give some context to this event, we need to look back at the previous chapter.

Turn to and read Matthew 19:27-30.

So, when we get to Matthew chapter 20 and the passage we are looking at this morning, Christ has already promised:

Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes. (19:28)

Those that had forsaken everything would receive an hundredfold and would inherit everlasting life.

Note: We know how an individual is saved and receives the gift of eternal life. (John 10:28; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8-9) Eternal life cannot be earned. Christ’s lesson here is that those who have put faith in Christ for salvation will enjoy everlasting life and, in addition to those who have forsaken everything, they would be rewarded an hundredfold.

David Sorenson says:

“…as God’s people are willing to sacrifice to serve the Lord now, they can receive considerable reward then.”

Application: This morning, we took the opportunity to honor our staff. While this does not make them more important or more valuable, they have made certain sacrifices in this life in order to serve the Lord full-time.

One things to keep in mind, though…Even though Christ made these promises, He ended with this statement in vs. 16:

Matthew 19:30 KJV 1900

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

So, when the mother of James and John made this request of Christ, she was in a sense simply asking, Since my boys are going to be ruling alongside of You, would you please allow them to sit on either side of Your throne?

Was it wrong of her to ask this of Christ? Did James and John put their mother up to this?

I don’t know that we can definitively answer those questions.

Note: Before you become too critical of James and John and their mother, I want you to remember that, in Matthew chapter 19, verse 27, Peter asked:

Matthew 19:27 (KJV 1900)

...Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Now, back to the chapter 20: One of the reasons why I don’t know that we can definitively answer the first question (Was it wrong?) is because it speaks to motive.

Why did their mother ask for this? What was her motive behind it? What was James and John’s motive in going along with this request?

Allow me to ask a few questions as a matter of application:

What do you desire?

In the context of this passage of Scripture (and that in chapter 19) is it your desire to rule or to serve?

What motive do you have?

Then, regardless of whether your desire is to rule or to serve, Why is that your desire?

I think that a more important consideration in this matter is..

Are you yielded to God?

Turn to and read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

With my whole heart I humbly seek you;

Now use my life, O Lord, I pray.

I yield my stubborn will completely;

May Your commandments light my way.

My life, Lord, is Yours to control;

I give You my heart and my soul.

I’ll seek Your will, never mine,

Rich treasures to find.

Give wisdom to choices I make

Along ev’ry path that I take,

So when I complete life’s race

“Well done,” You will say.

The Desire

The Difficulty

Matthew 20:22 KJV 1900

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.

Matthew 20:23 KJV 1900

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.

The difficulty was not the fact that Jesus Christ, in submission to the Father, understood that the specific placement around the throne of God was not His to give.

The difficulty was in the very first statement of Christ in vs. 22:

Ye know not what ye ask.

Instead of asking, God, I would like to… we should instead ask, as Saul did on the road to Damascus:

Acts 9:6 (KJV 1900)

...Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?...

David wrote:

Psalm 143:10 KJV 1900

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

The Difficulty

The Division

Matthew 20:24 KJV 1900

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

When writer said:

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 20:24–28

When the 10 disciples heard about the request by James and John’s mother, they became indignant. They were probably sorry they had not thought of it first!

As someone else said of the disciples here: They all had their eyes on self!

Turn to and read 1 Corinthians 11:17-19.

Exploring 1 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary Part 4: Difficulties in the Church (1 Corinthians 7:1–14:40)

Paul also describes these dissentions as “heresies.” The Greek word hairesis refers to that self-willed opinion which opposes truth and which leads to division and to the formation of sects. The word does not denote heresies as we commonly understand the word today, meaning radical departure from the truth.

The division between the disciples in Matthew chapter 20 could have been avoided had they simply said, Teach us to do Thy will!

The Division

The Decision

Matthew 20:25 KJV 1900

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.

Matthew 20:26 KJV 1900

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Matthew 20:27 KJV 1900

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

But It shall not be so among you...

Jesus, in essence said, You’re acting like the world! Stop it!

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary (a) Concerning Secular Power—The Worldly Concept (20:25)

The Romans exercised authority to increase their power, minister to their pride, and gain their own ends. Such ambition is contrary to the spirit of the Lord Jesus.

Instead, Christ gave them a different ambition to strive for:

Be a minister

The Greek word that is used here is the word:

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (1356 διάκονος)

διάκονος

from which we get our word Deacon.

Then Christ says...

Be a servant

The Greek word that is used here is the word:

Lexham Theological Wordbook δοῦλος

δοῦλος

which refers to someone who is the property of another; a slave.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 20:24–28

Greatness in the Lord’s kingdom does not come through rulership or authority but through service (20:26–27). Their goal should be serving, not ruling. Those most highly esteemed will be those who serve, those who are humble.

Is that your goal? Is that your desire?

To back up His decision, He used Himself as the Foundation of the truth that He had just taught them:

Matthew 20:28 KJV 1900

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

There is no greater example of this principle than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

Philippians 2:3–8 KJV 1900

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Decision

So, what will your decision be?