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Matthew 20:21

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

He asked her, 'What do you want?' She said, 'Promise me that when you're ruling your kingdom, my two sons can sit right next to you, one on your right side and one on your left.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

A mom straight up asked Jesus to give her sons the VIP seats in heaven.

📚 Historical Context

In the first century, during Jesus' ministry in Galilee, people often viewed the coming kingdom of God through the lens of earthly power and politics, expecting a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule. The mother of James and John, two of Jesus' closest disciples, approached him with a bold request for her sons to receive honored seats in his kingdom, which reflected the cultural emphasis on family honor and social hierarchy. This incident occurred as Jesus was teaching about humility and service, right after he had foretold his own suffering and death.

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