Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:20-28
We know from Mark’s account that the apostles were having an ongoing debate about who would be greatest in the coming kingdom (Mark 9:33-37). Believing that Jesus was about to establish an earthly kingdom, they were eager for the best and highest cabinet post. James and John took a bold step in order to secure the top two positions, on the right and left of Jesus. They brought their mother to make the request for them, hoping that Jesus would grant such an impassioned plea. This breach of protocol apparently enraged the other disciples. Jealousy brewed within the ranks. This was the position they had longed for and James and John were trying to beat them to it.
It is interesting that Jesus did not reply by saying there was no such position to be given, but instead only the Father would grant such positions. This is one of a few places in scripture that indicate we will serve in varying roles and capacities in heaven. Luke 19:11-27 is another. This should be no surprise, since even the angels are given similar roles in heaven and we on earth are also charged with different abilities and opportunities for service to the Lord.
But the disciples had misunderstood the nature of the Lord’s kingdom even as many do today. In a physical kingdom, politics and positioning plays a major role in obtaining power. But in the Lord’s kingdom, the greatest is the one who makes himself a slave. How instructive to learn that in Christ’s kingdom there is to be no such thing as a person or persons who would lord it over others or exercise authority over others. Religious cults are clearly indicted here. Such exercising of authority is the foundation of cults. But cults are not the only ones who violate this principle. Religious denominations have many times used power to keep their people under control. Paul answered such abuse when he said, “For although we are walking in the flesh, we do not wage war in a fleshly way, since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5). In other words, Paul taught that it is by God’s weapons of warfare – the scriptures – that the arguments against the knowledge of God are demolished. The use of fleshly weapons of power and politics are not allowed in the Lord’s kingdom.
Berry Kercheville