Matthew 20:23 bbe — They say to him, We are able. He says to them, Truly, you will take of my cup: but to be seated at my right hand and at…

Bible in Basic English

"They say to him, We are able. He says to them, Truly, you will take of my cup: but to be seated at my right hand and at my left is not for me to give, but it is for those for whom my Father has made it ready."

— Matthew 20:23, Bible in Basic English

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Matthew 20:23 in Other Translations

3 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “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.”

  • ASV

    “He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father. ”

  • NET

    “He told them,“You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.””

Matthew 20 — Context

20

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, giving him worship and making a request of him.

21

And he said to her, What is your desire? She says to him, Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.

22

But Jesus made answer and said, You have no idea what you are requesting. Are you able to take of the cup which I am about to take?

23

They say to him, We are able. He says to them, Truly, you will take of my cup: but to be seated at my right hand and at my left is not for me to give, but it is for those for whom my Father has made it ready.

24

And when it came to the ears of the ten, they were angry with the two brothers.

25

But Jesus said to them, You see that the rulers of the Gentiles are lords over them, and their great ones have authority over them.

26

Let it not be so among you: but if anyone has a desire to become great among you, let him be your servant;

Matthew 20:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 20:23 say?
Matthew 20:23 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “They say to him, We are able. He says to them, Truly, you will take of my cup: but to be seated at my right hand and at my left is not for me to give, but it is for those for whom my Father has made it ready.”
Where is Matthew 20:23 in the Bible?
Matthew 20:23 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 20, verse 23.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 20:23.
What translation should I read Matthew 20:23 in?
Matthew 20:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 20:23?
Matthew 20:23 reads (BBE): “They say to him, We are able. He says to them, Truly, you will take of my cup: but to be seated at my right hand and at my left is not for me to give, but it is for those for whom my Father has made it ready.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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