back: (20: 1-16) Jesus teaches more about money
next: (21: 1-22) Jesus causes a stir in Jerusalem

Gospel of Matthew

(20: 17-34) Who does God regard as important

17 Jesus was about to go to Jerusalem, and he took his twelve followers aside as they were walking and told them: 18 “Look, we are on our way to Jerusalem, and there I, the Son of Man, will be handed over to the senior priests and the experts in the Jewish writings. They will sentence me to death, 19 and then hand me over to foreigners who will ridicule me, whip me, and nail me on a cross to die.”

20 After this, the mother of James and John (the sons of Zebedee) came with her sons and bowed before Jesus. She wanted to ask him for something, 21 so he asked her what it was. She replied: “In your kingdom, give important places to my two sons. Let one of them sit beside you on your right, and let the other sit beside you on your left.” 22 But Jesus replied to James and John: “You have no idea what you are asking for. Can you share with me in the ‘cup’ of suffering that I am about to drink from?” They said they could. 23 So Jesus said to them: “All right, you will share in my cup of suffering, but it is not me who chooses who sits on my right and on my left. God my Father will give those places to the people he has prepared them for.” 24 When Jesus’ other ten followers heard this request, they were very angry with the two brothers. 25 Jesus got them all together and told them: “As you know, the rulers of the nations give the orders, and those who are regarded as great have authority over others. 26 But among you, my followers, things need to be different. A person who wants to be regarded as great should serve others. 27 Anyone who wants to be regarded as important should do the work of a slave. 28 Act like me, the Son of Man – I did not come to earth in order for people to serve me, but so that I could serve them and could sacrifice my life as a ransom¹ to set many people free.

29 Later, when they were leaving the city of Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men who were sitting beside the road heard that Jesus was passing by. They shouted out: “Master, Son of David, take pity on us!” 31 But people in the crowd told them to stop and keep quiet. Instead they shouted even more loudly: “Master, Son of David, take pity on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and told them to come to him. “What would you like me to do for you?” he asked. 33 They replied: “Master, we want to be able to see.” 34 Jesus was very sorry for them. He touched them on their eyes and straight away they could see again. Then they followed Jesus on his journey.