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.
MATTHEW 20:22KJVWhat does Matthew 20:22 mean?
Matthew 20:22 shows Jesus responding to a request from two of his disciples by warning them that they do not understand what they are asking for, and then asking if they are truly able to face the suffering ("drink of the cup" and "be baptized with the baptism") that he himself will face. The disciples confidently answer that they are able, not realizing the full weight of what this means.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to James and John (and their mother, who had just asked for them to have honored places in his kingdom). Jesus uses the image of drinking a cup and undergoing baptism to describe the hardship and suffering he will soon experience. The disciples, eager for honor, do not yet grasp that following Jesus means sharing in his difficult path, not just his glory.
The Greek behind Matthew 20:22
- "Cup" (ποτήριον, potērion) is often used in the Bible to symbolize a person's fate or experience, especially suffering or judgment. Here, Jesus uses it to refer to the suffering he is about to endure.
- "Baptized" (βαπτίζω, baptizō) and "baptism" (βάπτισμα, baptisma) are used figuratively by Jesus to describe being overwhelmed or immersed in hardship. This goes beyond the usual meaning of water baptism and points to a deep, personal experience of suffering.
- "Able" (δύναμαι, dynamai) is a word that means having the power or ability to do something. Jesus questions whether the disciples truly have the strength for what lies ahead, challenging their confidence.
Why Matthew 20:22 matters
- This verse clears up the misunderstanding that following Jesus is only about honor or reward; it highlights that discipleship involves real sacrifice and suffering.
- The language Jesus uses connects his own coming suffering with what his followers may also experience, setting the tone for the kind of commitment he expects.
- This moment helps explain the disciples' journey from misunderstanding to eventual understanding, as they later face hardship themselves for following Jesus.