But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater, exercise power upon them.

“By thus calling them to Him, and speaking to them face to face, he sooths them in their discomposure; for the two had been speaking with the Lord apart by themselves. But not now as before does He it by bringing forward a child, but He proves it to them by reasoning from contraries; Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them.”

“In the preceding part the Lord rejected those intending to come to glory on account of the antiquity of time; here he rejects one who intends to come on account of fleshly origin. First, therefore, the occasion of the petition is set forth; second, the petition; third, the response. The occasion was the announcement of Christ's passion. And first he announces the place; second the passion; third the resurrection. He says, "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem," etc. Above, in chapter 19:1, it was said that having left Galilee he came into Judea, and did not immediately go up to Jerusalem, but afterward, with the passion drawing near; hence he says "going up," that is, when he was on the point of going up. Jerusalem was a place set high up. "He took the twelve disciples apart," etc. And why does it say "apart"? For two reasons. First, because he wished to show them great things, and so they were not to be shared with all; above, in chapter 13:11: "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven." Also, in order to avoid scandal, because the men who were not yet perfect would have been turned away from him if they had heard of his death; the women would have been provoked to tears. Also, it should be known that Judas had not yet conceived his evil intent, and so the Lord did not exclude him from the company. "And he said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem," etc. Here the firmness of his resolve is noted; hence "behold," that is, I am in the same resolve and in the same will, because I am not changed; Ecclesiasticus 27:12: "A fool is changed as the moon, but a wise man remains steadfast as the sun." Also, by his own will; Isaiah 53:7: "He was offered because it was his own will." He touches on the place, "to Jerusalem"; Luke 13:33: "It cannot be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem." And why? Because it was a place of the Law and of the priesthood, and both were fitting for Christ; because just as the true priest had to offer sacrifice for the people, so also Christ offered a victim for the world. Also, through his passion he acquired his kingdom. Also, Jerusalem is interpreted "vision of peace"; Colossians 1:20: "Making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven." Next the passion is foretold. And he frequently called his passion to mind, so as to bring it back into memory. And he touches three things pertaining to the passion, for he suffered from a disciple's betrayal — "and the Son of Man shall be betrayed," namely by a disciple. Of this betrayal we have below in chapter 27:10, and in Psalm 40:10: "He that did eat my bread, hath greatly supplanted me." Also, from the chief priests and scribes, condemnation; hence "and they shall condemn him to death"; Job 34:17: "How dost thou condemn him that is just so severely?" Wisdom 2:20: "Let us condemn him to a most shameful death." "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles," because the Jews delivered him into the hands of the Gentiles; hence Pilate said: "Thy own nation, and thy chief priests, have delivered thee up to me." And he touches on three things that were done to him, against the three things that men most desire, namely honor, rest, and life. Against honor, he was mocked; hence he says "to mock"; Jeremiah 20:7: "I am become a laughingstock all the day"; and Psalm 37:12: "My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me." Against rest, he was scourged; hence "to scourge"; Isaiah 50:6: "I have given my face to them that struck me, and my cheeks to them that plucked them." Also, against the third, killed; hence "and to crucify"; Philippians 2:8: "Christ became obedient for us unto death, even the death of the cross." Then he treats of the resurrection: "and the third day he shall rise again." Now this God the Father did; hence Acts 2:24: "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, according as it was impossible that he should be holden by it." "And the third day": according to Augustine, it is signified that his single day destroyed our double; Hosea 6:3: "He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise us up." "Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee." Here is set forth the occasioned petition. And first the petition is set forth in general; second it is explained, at "But he said to her," etc. He says therefore, "Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee." These sons were John and James, their mother was Salome — hence Salome is the woman's name. In Mark it is stated that the sons asked, here it is stated that the mother did; but the truth is that the mother asked, induced by her sons. "Adoring," because she asked with humility, for she knew that a humble supplication is always pleasing to God; Psalm 101:18: "He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble." And Judith 9:1: "And prostrating herself before the Lord, she cried to the Lord." "And asking something," "to be given her by him," that is, I ask you to give what I want; and this petition is not to be granted, and whoever grants it grants foolishly. We read of Herod, that he granted such a thing to the daughter of Herodias, and did not revoke it. Solomon granted his mother's request; but because he was wise, he revoked the incautious promise. Therefore Christ, wiser than these, was unwilling to grant it unless it were expressed; above, chapter 12:42: "And behold, a greater than Solomon here." So there follows the explanation of the petition, "and she said: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom." But there is a question: whence had this woman conceived this? She had heard of the passion and resurrection, and so had conceived something carnal, namely that immediately with glory he was to be in Jerusalem; therefore she wished to ask preeminence for her sons. Also, she had heard that the twelve were to judge; and so she wanted to place her own first, taking it thus according to the letter. And it should be known that James and John were more honored by Christ after Peter; therefore they wished to exclude Peter. Chrysostom says otherwise, that she asked for something spiritual, and in this she is to be praised, because mothers seek what is temporal more than what is spiritual; hence a mother, if she sees her son sinning, does not grieve as much as if she sees him sick. Hence by the right hand spiritual things are signified, earthly things by the left. Or we can understand by the right hand and the left the active life and the contemplative; so she asks that these be made perfect in each life; Song of Songs 2:6: "His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me." "And Jesus answering said." Here the response is set forth; then the murmuring of the others, at "And the ten, hearing it, were indignant at the two brethren." And concerning the first he does three things. First he rebukes their folly; second he examines their readiness, at "Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?" Third he refuses the petition, at "But to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you." But what of this? They themselves were not asking, but the mother. The Lord knew that she was asking induced by them, and so he answers them, just as above, in chapter 16:23, the Lord had said to Peter, "Thou knowest not what thou sayest." "You know not what you ask"; as if to say: you ought not ask for temporal things, but spiritual excellence. Or, if they understood it spiritually, they were asking that they might have preeminence above every creature, because to sit at the right hand befits no creature, as we have in Hebrews 1:13: "To which of the angels said he at any time: Sit on my right hand?" Hence to sit at the right hand exceeds every creature. Or otherwise, according to Hilary: "You know not what you ask," because I have already granted you what you ask, since it was said above in chapter 19:28: "You shall sit upon twelve seats," etc. Or otherwise: "you know not," because I have called you to the right hand, and you ask that one be at the left? Or, the devil, just as through a woman he had drawn man to the left, wished to lead these men back to the left through a woman; but this he could not do, since salvation was wrought through a woman. Or, "you know not," because you contend about the reward without the merit going before. Therefore you ought to consider that one does not come to the reward except through merit; so I want first to examine you, whether you can suffer, etc. Hence he says, "Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?" Here he examines them, and provokes them gently to the passion, since he calls the passion a chalice. Of this it is said in Psalm 115:13: "I will take the chalice of salvation"; and it continues: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." And it is called a chalice because it inebriates. Also he says "that I shall drink"; 1 Peter 2:21: "Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps." "They say to him: We can." And why do they answer thus? For three reasons. First out of love for Christ, because they clung to Christ in such a way that death could not separate them from him, just as Peter said below, in chapter 26:35: "Yea, though I should die with thee, I will not deny thee." Also out of ignorance, because they did not consider their own strength, for to those to whom something once seemed easy before the deed, they fail in the very act. Also they said it out of desire to obtain what they had asked. Hence they believed they would immediately obtain what they were asking, and so they immediately grant "we can" out of this desire. Next he refuses the petition. And first he foretells the future passion; second he answers the petition. He says therefore, "My chalice indeed you shall drink." But what of this? It is true that James drank it; hence in Acts 12:2: "And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword." But John died without the chalice of the passion. But it must be said that he did not drink unto death, yet he was scourged, placed in oil, and exiled. Also he suffered many punishments, and so he was not exempt from the drinking of the chalice. "But to sit at my right hand": here he answers concerning the petition for glory. If the Lord had said, "I will give it to you," the others would have been saddened; if he had denied it, they themselves would have been made sad; therefore he said, "But to sit on my right hand or left is not mine to give to you; but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father." From this passage the Arians argued that the dignity of the Father and the Son is not equal. Jerome and others explain that he himself gives it together with the Father. Hence he means to say, "it is not mine to give to you," as if to say: the preeminence of dignity is not given to a person, but to merit, and this according to divine predestination. 1 Corinthians 2:9: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him." John 14:3: "If I shall go, and prepare a place for you," etc. Hence from what the Father prepares, he himself prepares too. Or, "it is not mine to give to you," without merits, but to persons acquiring it by merit; but "mine" from the predestination which is mine from my Father. And Augustine puts it thus: Salome was the sister of the mother of Christ, and because they believed they would obtain it through a person more closely joined to him, they believed he ought to give it to them, since they were joined to him according to the flesh. But in him, in one person, there were two natures; hence he says "it is not mine," namely according to the power which I have from the Father, and so I will give according to what my Father has disposed. "And the ten, hearing it, were indignant at the two brethren." Above the Lord had suppressed the ill-considered petition of the disciples; here he sets forth the indignation of the others. And first the indignation is set forth; second it is suppressed by word; third by deed. The second is at "But Jesus called them to him, and said"; the third at "Even as the Son of Man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister." It should be considered that just as out of a certain elation the two brothers wished to be superior, so out of a certain elation these others were indignant. Proverbs 1:10: "Among the proud there are always quarrels." But why "at the two brethren"? Because it was not they themselves who had asked, but the mother; but the disciples understood from the Lord's words that the mother had asked at their instigation. But why were they not indignant sooner? Chrysostom says that they revered the Master, and so were awaiting the Lord's judgment; but when they heard the Master rebuking, then they were indignant. Then he rebukes them. And first he puts before them the example of the Gentiles; second he teaches that the example is not to be followed, at "You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them"; third he sets forth what is to be imitated, at "It shall not be so among you." He says therefore, "But Jesus called them to him," giving an example of humility. Above, in chapter 11:29: "Learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart." And he says: "You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them." Among the Jews the Gentiles were held in abomination, as we have above in chapter 18:17: "Let him be to thee as the heathen and publican." Hence "the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them" strikes horror, so that it may be noted that this example is not to be imitated. But it should be noted that there is a twofold preeminence, namely of dignity and of power, and he touches on both when he says "the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them," etc. Those are princes who preside by office. But what of this? Is it evil to rule? "To lord it" is sometimes said in place of "to preside," and so it is not taken here; sometimes it is understood correlatively to "servant," and so it means the same as to subject a servant to oneself in servile fashion, and it is taken in this way here. For princes are instituted so that they may procure good for their subjects; but if they wish to reduce them to servitude, then they abuse their office, because they use as slaves those who are free, for the free man is he who is his own cause, the slave he who is the cause of another. And because this is customary among the Gentiles, and still is among some, he says, "the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them," that is, they reduce their subjects to servitude. Ezekiel 22:27: "Her princes in the midst of her, are like wolves ravening the prey." Also, some have preeminence not in dignity, but in power, as some nobles do. And it is customary that those who have power do not use it for benefit, but exercise power over them, namely to oppress, not to do justice. But the Lord does not wish that custom in his Church; therefore he says, "It shall not be so among you," that is, no one among you ought to be, as it were, a lord over others; 1 Peter 5:3: "Neither as lording it over the clergy." "But whosoever": against these two things he does two things, "but whosoever will be the greater among you," and this refers to the second saying, namely "and they that are the greater exercise power upon them"; that is, let whoever desires to have presidency in the Church of the Holy Spirit so desire it that he be as a minister; 1 Peter 4:10: "As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another, as good stewards," so that the more you have, the more you spend on what is useful. Therefore, "he that will be the greater among you," that is, in the Church, let him become as a minister, that is, let him minister to the need of others. But as to what is said, "the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them," he says: "and he that will be first among you shall be your servant," that is, if anyone desires to have primacy in the Church, let him know that this is not to have lordship, but servitude. For it belongs to a servant to devote his whole self to the service of his lord; thus the prelates of the Church owe to their subjects all that they have and all that they are; 1 Corinthians 9:19: "Whereas I was free as to all, I made myself the servant of all"; 2 Corinthians 4:5: "But ourselves your servants through Jesus." Hence, according to Chrysostom, it is a wretched thing. So then it has been said that one is not to act according to the custom of the Gentiles. But since they might say, then what shall we follow? He says, follow me, and shows himself a minister, saying, "Even as the Son of Man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister." But against this: do we not have above, in chapter 4:11, that the angels came and ministered to him? Hence John 12:2 says that Martha ministered. I say that although he was ministered unto, he did not come for this. But for what then? That he himself might minister, that is, bestow abundance of glory upon others. The Apostle, Romans 15:8: "Now I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision." And in Luke 22:27: "I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth." But you will say: is he a servant, seeing he is a prince? Yes. For he is called a servant who is taken as a price; and he himself made himself the price, and gave himself as a redemption for many; hence he came to minister, "and to give his life," that is, his bodily life, "a redemption for many." He does not say "for all," because as to sufficiency, it is for all; but as to efficacy, it is for many, namely for the elect. Hence John 15:13: "Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jeremiah 12:7: "I have given my dear soul into the hand of her enemies." "And when they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him." The disciples' indignation was suppressed by word; here he suppresses it by deed, exercising ministry toward certain persons. And first is set forth the devotion of others; second Christ's compassion, at "And Jesus stood, and called them." Concerning the first, first is set forth the devotion of the multitude; second, of the blind men, at "And behold two blind men," etc. He says therefore, "and when they went out from Jericho," great multitudes followed him, because many were following, so the Lord was solicitous, just as a great harvest is a solicitude to the gatherer. But according to the mystical sense, Jericho is said to mean "defect," and signifies the defect of the world. Hence, unless the Lord had come to these defects, men would not have come to him. Hence the multitudes followed him as his sheep; John 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and follow me." There follows the devotion of the blind men, "and behold two blind men," etc. And first their devotion is set forth; second their constancy, at "And the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace." But here there is a question, because in Luke 18:35 we read that there was only one blind man who met him, and here it says there were two who met him as the Lord was going out of Jericho, at his departure. But Mark agrees with Luke, that there was only one, and so Matthew disagrees with both. Augustine says that this blind man of whom Luke writes was a different one from these, because he met him before he entered Jericho. But Mark and Matthew say that it happened as he was going out of Jericho; but as to why Mark did not say two, as Matthew did, the reason is that one was better known and more famous, and because of his fame the miracle was more famous. And this is clear because he names him, "who is called Bartimaeus," and in Scripture only men who were very well known are named. By these blind men are signified two peoples, namely the people of the Jews and the people of the Gentiles, who were sitting beside the way, which is Christ. Isaiah 30:21: "This is the way, walk ye in it." Or, are signified those converted from either people, who sit beside the way, that is, Christ; John 14:6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." They had heard through preaching that Jesus, according to human nature, would pass by, so as to undergo death, so as to cure the sick; therefore they cried out, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David." The cause of their being heard was not the loudness of the voice, but the fervor of devotion. Psalm 119:1: "In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me." Also they confess that he is both God and man: God, because they say, "Lord"; Psalm 99:3: "Know ye that the Lord he is God." And they ask for what is proper to God, namely "have mercy on us"; Psalm 144:9: "His tender mercies are over all his works." Also they call him of the seed of David, and in this they confess his humanity. Next is set forth their constancy. And first the obstacle is set forth; second the constancy. He says therefore, "And the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace," insofar as it was possible, because in that crowd there were some who revered Christ, and these rebuked them, because they thought it a vile thing that vile persons should approach so great a man. But those who disparaged Christ rebuked them, because they heard what they did not wish to hear, for they were grieved that they called him son of David. Jeremiah 23:5: "I will raise up to David a just branch" — "I will raise up unto David my servant." Mystically it is signified that some, blinded by sin, cry out to the Lord, "have mercy on us." But the crowd of carnal thoughts and carnal men rebukes them for coming to Christ. Job 20:2: "Therefore my thoughts different one from another succeed one another, and my mind is hurried away to different things." But a man ought to be constant against this and fight and labor manfully, as the Apostle teaches in 2 Timothy 2:3: "Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." But the word of God is not bound by the words of men, and therefore there follows, "But they cried out the more." "And Jesus stood." Here is set forth the mercy of the Lord, and it is shown, for he stood. And why did he stand? Because the road was stony and full of hollows, so he wished to stand, because if they had gone forward, perhaps they could have been hurt. According to the mystical sense, because in coming into the world he moved men to ask, but he gave salvation by standing. Hence through the incarnation men are set in motion, but through him teaching and persevering they are healed. There follows, "and called them." But why did he call them? So that others might make way for them, and this signifies those whom the Lord calls through predestination. Romans 8:29: "Whom he foreknew, he also predestinated." Also he inquires their will: "What will ye that I do to you?" He did not ask so that he himself might know, but so as to give them to understand that he satisfies those who ask devoutly. Psalm 144:19: "He will do the will of them that fear him." "They say to him: Lord, that our eyes be opened." And this is just, that any sinner should ask this. Psalm 118:18: "Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law." And elsewhere, Psalm 12:4: "Enlighten my eyes." They confessed him God, by saying "Lord," and man, by calling him son of David. "Therefore he had mercy on them." For he does all things out of his mercy. Lamentations 3:22: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed." "And he touched their eyes, and immediately they saw." In this, that he touched their eyes and immediately they saw, the humanity and divinity of Christ are touched upon: for that he touched was the work of his humanity; but that he immediately gave light was the work of his divinity. The Lord himself touches through grace, but he enlightens through glory; Psalm 143:5: "Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke." There follows, "and they followed him." Hence they were not ungrateful. For many, before they obtain a benefit, follow the Lord, but once the benefit is received they abandon him — contrary to Ecclesiasticus 23:38: "It is a great glory to follow the Lord."”

“But it shall not be so among you,.... This is not to be extended to Christian nations, as if there were to be no order of magistracy subsisting in them; but that all must be on a level, and no distinction of princes and subjects, of governors and governed; nor to Christian churches, as if there was no ecclesiastical authority to be used, or any church government and power to be exercised; none to rule, whom others are to obey and submit themselves to; but is to be restrained to the apostles as such, among whom there was an entire equality; being all apostles of Christ, being equally qualified and sent, and put into the selfsame office by him: the same holds good of all pastors of churches, who have no superintendency and pre-eminence over one another, or can, or ought to exercise any lordly power and authority, one, or more, over the rest; being equally invested with the same office power, one as another: for otherwise Christ's kingdom would appear like the nations of the world, and to be of a worldly nature; whereas it is spiritual, and does not lie in worldly pomp and grandeur, and in external superiority and pre-eminence of one another; but in the spiritual administration of the word and ordinances; which every pastor of a church has an equal right to exercise, and obedience to them lies in a submission to these things: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be, or, as in Mark, shall be your minister: whoever would be reckoned a great man in the kingdom of Christ, or under the Gospel dispensation, must be a minister to others if he is desirous of being truly great in the esteem of God, and of men, he must do great service for Christ, and to the souls of men; and seek to bring great glory to God, by faithfully ministering the word and ordinances, and by denying himself worldly honour and glory, and by serving others, through much reproach, difficulty, and opposition.”

“Princes of the Gentiles lord it over them: tyrannize over those that are under them, by arbitrary and violent proceedings. (Witham) — Our Lord wishing to extinguish the indignation conceived against the two brothers, lays before them the difference of secular and ecclesiastical princes, shewing that precedency in the Church is neither to be sought for by him who is not possessed of it, nor too eagerly loved by him who has it; for secular princes are lords of their subjects, keeping them under subjection, and govern them in every particular according to their will; but ecclesiastical princes are honoured with precedency, that they may be servants of their inferiors, administer to them whatever they have received from Christ, neglect their own convenience for the good of their neighbour, and be willing even to die for the spiritual good of their subjects. It is neither just nor reasonable, therefore, to desire precedency in the Church, without these qualifications. No prudent man is willing to subject himself to such servitude and danger, as to take upon himself the obligation of having to give an account of the wickedness and perversity of others, unless fearless of the divine judgments, he abuse his ecclesiastical superiority. (St. Chrysostom)”