He Gives Anything I Want?
“Imagine using a cell phone to chop a tree down—not the best idea”.
The Chosen + Bible Project | Season 4
Matthew 20:20-28 KJV
[20] Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
[21] 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.
[22] But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask.
Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
[23] And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:
but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
[24] And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
[25] But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
[26] But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
[27] and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
[28] even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
He Gives Anything I Want?
We’re taught to rank people according to who’s best and worst, who’s important and who isn’t.
And because of this, we often want higher status for ourselves whenever possible.
So, Salome’s instruction for James and John to “get ahead in this world” doesn’t come as a surprise, and she supports it with a startling justification:
“[Jesus] said you can ask him for anything, and he will give it to you! Just ask him!”
Did Jesus actually mean that though?
We can ask for whatever we want and—just like that—it’ll be ours?
When you examine Jesus’ claim in light of his other teachings, you’ll see how Jesus qualifies and clarifies this idea.
He’s not saying, “Ask whatever, and I’ll do it.”
The context of his promise invites his disciples to reflect first and then ask (or don’t).
He Gives Anything I Want?
Because we now engage with Jesus’ words as Scripture, let’s talk briefly about the study of the Bible.
It needs to be interpreted carefully, according to its design.
It’s always better to use things as their designers intended.
Imagine using a cell phone to chop a tree down—not the best idea.
Similarly, using the Bible to make claims based on a surface-level reading of single sentences won’t work well.
The Bible is ancient meditation literature, which means it lacks detail modern readers may expect, and it can be ambiguous.
Its authors want readers to consider things like context and literary themes and patterns woven throughout the whole Bible.
And It’s designed for thoughtful learning with others.
We are meant to read and re-read, contemplate, and practice our interpretation over time with the goal of developing wisdom.
Salome and her sons make an unwise request, and Jesus responds, “You don’t know what you’re asking!”
Real honor and power, Jesus teaches elsewhere, will come from learning to forgive, bless, and generously care for others according to his love.
God lifts up the humble and humbles the proud.
Had Salome and her sons meditated on all of Jesus’ words in order to understand his wisdom, their request would have changed.
When we interpret Jesus’ words, or any part of the Bible, it’s helpful to remember we’re engaging with meditation literature.
Then we just might avoid the mistake of Salome and her sons.
He Gives Anything I Want?
Matthew 7:7-11 KJV
[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
[8] for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
[9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
[10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
[11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Also Read: The Bible: What Version Should I Read? – Diademng (thediademng.org)
He Gives Anything I Want?
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