Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 10:37
They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
37. that we may sit ] The mention of Thrones (Mat 19:28), as in reversion for the Twelve at the coming of their Master in glory, may have suggested the idea to the aspiring Three. This session on the right hand and on the left was a Jewish form of expression for being next to the king in honour.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 37. In thy glory.] In the kingdom of thy glory-three MSS. Which kingdom they expected to be established on earth.
And be baptized] OR, be baptized. Instead of and or, is the reading of BCDL, five others, Coptic, Armenian, later Syriac in the margin, Vulgate, all the Itala, and Origen. See Clarke on Mt 20:22.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
37. Grant unto us that we may sit,one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thyglorythat is, Assign to us the two places of highest honor inthe coming kingdom. The semblance of a plea for so presumptuous arequest might possibly have been drawn from the fact that one of thetwo usually leaned on the breast of Jesus, or sat next Him at meals,while the other was one of the favored three.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They said unto him,…. By their mother, or seconding her motion:
grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory; or glorious kingdom, which they expected would be quickly set up; and which they might conclude from his having lately promised to all the twelve, that when he should sit on his throne, they should sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel; and from his having just now mentioned his rising from the dead, which they might understand of some revival, or breaking forth of this glorious state; [See comments on Mt 20:21].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In thy glory ( ). Mt 20:21 has “in thy kingdom.” See on Mt 20:20 for the literal interpretation of Mt 19:28. They are looking for a grand Jewish world empire with apocalyptic features in the eschatological culmination of the Messiah’s kingdom. That dream brushed aside all the talk of Jesus about his death and resurrection as mere pessimism.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “They said unto Him,” (hoi de eipan auto) “Then they said to Him,” James and John, objects of the petition that both they and their mother had made to Jesus.
2) “Grant unto us that we may sit,” (dos hemon hina kathisomen) “Give us the privilege in order that we may sit,” in positions of honor, to preside, as our Lord later promised high positions of service and honor to each of the twelve in the millennial glory age, but not definitively on His right or on His left side, Luk 22:30.
3) “One on thy right hand,” (eissou ekdeksion) “One of us on (or at) your right hand,” with power.
4) “And the other on thy left hand,” (kai eis eks aristeron) “And one (the other) out at your left hand,” with power.
5) “In thy glory.” (en te dokse sou) “In your glory,” when you sit in your glory, upon the throne of your glory, as referred to Mat 19:28; 1Co 6:2; Rev 3:21.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And they said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one on your right hand and one on your left hand, in your glory.” ’
This request assumes a statement like Mat 19:28 in order to get their minds thinking in this direction. The idea of suffering had passed them by, but the idea of glory appealed. If the twelve were to rule, and Peter had shown that he came short, they felt that they deserved the favoured places (John would, after all, have one at the Last Supper – Joh 13:23). We can see from this the way the disciples were thinking and appreciate better why they were unprepared for what would soon happen. In spite of the warnings they could not rid their minds of earthly glory.
‘Matthew has ‘in your kingship’ but the idea is the same. They may well have said ‘in your glorious kingship’. The idea of a glorious Messianic kingship preceding the establishing of the Kingly Rule of God was popular, and they wanted pre-eminence in sharing the rule and the glory. Compare how glory is to be given to the Son of Man in Dan 7:14. It is interesting how quickly they could seize on ideas of glory and how slowly on ideas of suffering. But we often hear what we want to hear and neglect what is unpleasant, and invariably interpret in the light of our own fixed ideas.
That two disciples should make such a request baffles us, because we look at the disciples after they have been transformed. But in fact they were simply manoeuvring for position and seeking to ensure the positions that they had already calculated might be theirs (had it not been for Peter, and he had surely disqualified himself. It is an indication of how grossly they had misinterpreted Jesus’ teaching, and of how self-seeking the disciples were at this point.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Ver. 37. See Trapp on “ Mat 20:21 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
sit = sit (in state).
on = at. Greek. ek. App-104.
Thy glory. Wondrous faith, coming immediately after the third announcement of His sufferings and resurrection. It was not a “Jewish notion” that the kingdom which had been proclaimed was a grand reality. It was a revealed truth.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
sit: Mar 16:19, 1Ki 22:19, Psa 45:9, Psa 110:1
in: Mar 8:38, Mat 25:31, Luk 24:26, 1Pe 1:11
Reciprocal: 2Ch 1:7 – Ask Mat 20:21 – Grant Luk 22:24 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
EXCELSIOR!
Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory.
Mar 10:37
The subject to which I wish to call your attention is the duty, I might almost say the necessity, of having high aims in religion.
I. In your inner life.Christ is really your only ground of confidence, and you sincerely desire to please Him, and to be like Him, and to dwell with Him for ever. Yet there is a walk so close with God that, Enoch-like, it seems only to want one more step to be translation. There is a heavenly-mindedness which is a very well-spring of purity and peace. And there is an expectation and longing for the Second Advent which knows neither death nor partinga ripeness always ready for the gathering.
II. Take a higher estimate of the work which you have to do for God in this world. Remember, you were created and recreated for work. What have you done? If you have done something, and feel it to be nothing, as you will, then to you I say this, Raise it, raise it! put more of Christ into it, have more faith in your work, do it more lovingly.
III. Do not be afraid to pray, to hope, to strive, for a high place in heaven.Do we not know, has not Christ told us, that there are degrees in that world of order, and ranges of angels, and archangels, and saints, ever ascending up to the very throne of God? And why has He told us this, if it be not that we are to try for the best? Away with that false humility which says, Only let me be anywhere in heaven! Go in boldly for the right hand and the left.
Illustration
Is ambition wrong? What is ambition? Ambition is an instinct of nature, a desire to rise; and, like all other instincts, capable of good and evil. Satan took hold of it, and said, Ye shall be as gods. Jesus enshrined it, Ye shall sit on thrones. Be ye perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect. When a man wishes to go out of his own line into another, to which evidently God has not called him, his ambition is wrong. When a man tries to get to the very top of his own line, his ambition is right. When a man seeks great things for himself, only for himself, it is a worldly ambition. When a man pursues great things for usefulness, for the Church, for Christ, it is the same principle, but it is consecrated, pious, and good.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
7
This request was based on their idea of an earthly kingdom.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 37
In thy glory; not in heaven, but in the administration of his kingdom upon earth, which they expected was soon to be established.