The Grace Commentary – Award-winning Bible commentary Matthew 20

Matthew 20:17

As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,

The twelve were Jesus closest followers. They were variously known as the twelve disciples and the twelve apostles (Matt. 10:1–2). Their names are recorded in Matthew 10:2–4.

Matthew 20:18

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,

(a) The Son of Man; see entry for Matt. 8:20.

(b) The chief priests; see entry for Matt. 2:4.

Matthew 20:19

and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

The third day; see entry for Matt. 17:23.

Matthew 20:20

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee was possibly Salome, and a witness to the crucifixion and empty tomb, and also Jesus’ aunt (see entry for Matt. 27:56).

Matthew 20:26

“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,

Whoever wishes to become great. In Christ, we are the kings who serve.

Some people read this and conclude we must be servile, but the context is the kingdom. We are priestly kings and kingly priests (see entry for Luke 22:26).

Matthew 20:28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

A ransom for many. Was Jesus’ life offered as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45) or a ransom for all (see 1 Tim. 2:6)? Both. Jesus paid for all but not all receive his grace. Many do; some don’t.

On the cross, the Lamb of God bore the sins of all (John 1:29, 1 John 2:2), and he bore the sins of many (Heb. 9:28). His righteousness is freely offered to all (Rom. 3:22), but only many are made righteous (Rom. 5:19). Forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to all (Luke 24:47), but his blood only brings forgiveness to many (Matt. 26:28). The grace of God brings salvation to all (Tit. 2:11), but only abounds to the many (Rom. 5:15).

Matthew 20:30

And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

(a) Mercy is what grace looks like when you are needy. See entry for Mercy.

(b) The son of David was another name for the Messiah. See entry for Matt. 1:1.

Matthew 20:31

The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Mercy; see previous verse.

Matthew 20:34

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Compassion. The original word for compassion (splagchnizomai) appears a dozen times in the New Testament and in every case it is associated with the divine compassion revealed in Jesus Christ. See entry for Compassion.

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Matthew 20