At times, certain seemingly contradictory events in the text become clearer, as we consider them over against the other. These things aren’t intended to hurt our faith, but to strengthen it under the magnification of what seems contradictory. Such things in the text are a call from God for us to pause in our reading and consider more deeply what is said. In my previous study, I mentioned that Jesus spoke of his impending execution by the Jerusalem authorities for a third time. In the very next breath, we read of Salome coming to Jesus on behalf of her two sons, asking Jesus to have them seated on his right and on his left (Matthew 20:21-22), when he came into his kingdom! If we consider this literally, what would that look like? Jesus is executed, and James and John are seated, on his right and the other on his left! What a contradictory understanding! What can we say of these things?
Jesus replied by saying: “You don’t know what you are asking!” (Matthew 20:22). They believed in the false doctrine that the Messiah cannot die (John 12:34). Therefore, they couldn’t believe what Jesus, their Messiah, had just told them, vis-à-vis he was about to be executed, when he arrived in Jerusalem.
Speaking once more of his impending execution, were they able to drink of that cup? They ignorantly and arrogantly replied, “We are able!” (Matthew 20:22), which is as ridiculous a boast that any I’ve ever heard of folks saying, as they try to defend the falsehood they embrace as truth! Jesus concluded by saying, indeed, you will drink of that cup… (Matthew 20:23). All twelve disciples were destined to be executed for the Gospel’s sake, to extinguish the valid witness (vis-à-vis two witnesses) of what Jesus said and did. Afterward, judgment would come (i.e. AD 70). Nevertheless, the positions of authority in the Kingdom of God weren’t Jesus’ to give out, while he was in the flesh. Instead, authority is given to those who were prepared for those positions, which included folks like Abraham, David and the prophets. What were they thinking?
Folks don’t angerly argue over truth, if what they believe is true. I’ve heard of and witnessed believers in heated arguments over the differences each believer embraced as truth, which was a representation of their respective denominations, but if one believed the truth, why would a believer be angry over the same truth believed by another? The ten other apostles became angry with James and John, not because the two sought to excel in the truth, but because they all believed in the false doctrine of an invincible Messiah, who couldn’t be slain (Matthew 16:21-22; 20:24). False doctrine is an extremely powerful delusion, which sets brother against brother. It is overcome, not in debate, but by simply speaking the truth. Keep in mind that Jesus never once spoke directly against false doctrine. Instead, he attacked falsehood by speaking the truth.
Notice what Jesus said to counteract the apostles’ debate and anger. Jesus pointed not to the Jewish authorities, but to the gentiles, saying those in authority lord it over those with less authority. It isn’t this way in the Kingdom of Heaven. Rather, to excel in the Kingdom, one must serve. The one who is willing to serve all, is considered to have the greatest authority (Matthew 20:25-27). The position the Kingdom of God considered first would be considered last in the kingdoms of men, and vice-versa, what men consider first in authority, the Kingdom of God considers last (Matthew 19:30; 20:16). Notice what Jesus did to show his disciple how to act toward one another. He held up his own example of not lording it over them. Indeed, he is their Lord and Master (John 13:13), but Jesus lived among them, serving each of them (Matthew 20:38; cp. John 13:14), healing them and their families, teaching them about the Kingdom of God, and doing it all without lording it over them for having a false worldview. In other words, he respected their freewill to believe differently. It is important for Jesus’ disciples to receive him willingly.
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