Matthew 20:21-23

Expanded Bible

²¹ Jesus asked, “What do you want?”

She said, “·Promise [Grant; Declare; ^LSay] that one of my sons will sit at your right ·side [hand] and the other will sit at your left side in your kingdom [^Cthe positions of highest authority beside the king].”

²² But Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. ·Can you [Are you able to] drink the cup [^Csymbolizing suffering, and perhaps God’s judgment experienced by Jesus on the cross; Jer. 25:15–29] that I am about to drink?”

The sons answered, “Yes, we ·can [are able].”

²³ Jesus said to them, “You will drink from my cup. But ·I cannot choose [it is not for me to grant/say] who will sit at my right or my left; those places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.”