OUR FATHER WHO WILL DETERMINE THOSE WHO WILL SIT IN AUTHORITY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

In the book of Matthew chapter 20 verses 20 - 23, an encounter between the mother of two of the Lord Jesusˋ disciples occured.

Mrs. Zebedee, having recieved some revelation into the identity of Jesus and the importance of His ministry and His eternal kingship, calculated that her early perception of the truth about Jesus could gain her sons, who were already His disciples, prominent positions in the kingdom that Jesus was proclaiming if she lobbied Him before anyone else did.

Mrs. Zebedee approached Jesus respectfully, knelt before Him and asked for a favour.

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

Jesus listened to her wish which was basically a request to post her two sons in the number two and number three positions in the hierachy of the kingdom of God.

A few verses earlier, in Matthew chapter 20 verse 16, the Lord had laid out the protocols of attaining greatness in the kingdom of God,

16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” 

The kingdom of heaven placed people in high positions of authority based on their voluntary self-relegation to the lowest positions of service. Likewise, the people who assigned themselves to elevated positions, were moved to lower placements.

These mechanisms bypass the channels of lobbying or back-room dealing and rely on the Fatherˋs final decisions as to whom to place where.

The Lord Jesus responded to the womanˋs petition by letting her know that even though she had gained insight into Jesusˋ identity and how exalted He truly was, she was not privy to the processes that attaining those elevated positions would require.

22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink 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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

Jesus asked the two disciples if they were capable of drinking the cup of suffering He was about to drink from and be baptized in the brook of death that he was about to be baptized in and they replied that they were able. 

The Lord Jesus assured them that they would partake in those things but nonetheless, the posting to positions of authority in the kingdom of God were not up to Him but were in the purview of the Father who had prepared these roles for those He had determined would fill them.

Have mercy on us O God.

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