Gospels In Harmony – Name it and Claim it (Command) vs. Ask in My Name – Mat 20:20-28, Mar 10:35-45

[Study Aired February 23, 2021]

Mat 20:20-21 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 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. 

Mar 10:35-37 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 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.

Mat 20:22-28 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. 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. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 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. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

In our last study Christ foretold his death:

Mar 10:32-34 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

The scriptures in this study expand to include His disciples. Christ tells His disciples that they must also become servants and die by drinking of His cup and being baptized with His baptism.  Also, Christ says that all this is being done by the Father through him.

Mat 20:22-23 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. 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.

In this study, Lord willing, we will see how this is accomplished.  James, John and their mother are commanding Christ to have James and John sit with Christ as rulers in the kingdom.

Mar 10:37 They said unto him, Grant (G2036) unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

G2036
ἔπω
epō
ep’-o
A primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from G2046, G4483 and G5346); to speak or say (by word or writing): – answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare G3004.

I say they are commanding Christ to make them rulers because of the spirit of their question to Christ. It is not the spirit of humility but the spirit of the devil. Here is how the devil uses the word G2036.

Luk 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command (G2036) this stone that it be made bread.

Now compare G2036 to G154 you will see the contrast at the end of our study.

G154
αἰτέω
aiteō
ahee-teh’-o
Of uncertain derivation; to ask (in generally): – ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. Compare G4441.

James, John and their mother represent us in type and shadow.

Mat 12:46-50 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

We all approach Christ at the beginning of our journey to the kingdom of God in this fashion. We command God to grant us our desires and wishes. The doctrine today is called “name it and claim it”. This comes from the belief that Christ did it all and we only have to claim what ever we desire in the name of the Lord.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Building a doctrine without using the sum of God’s word will deceive us. Christ, on the other hand, says “Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with”. Using the sum of God’s word will remove the deceptions of the world.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

James and John did physically drink of Christ’s cup and were baptized with Christ’s baptism becoming a type and shadow of our fate.

Act 12:1-2 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

James’ death and John’s exile are examples of our spiritual experience into the kingdom of God. How do we drink of the cup, and what is our baptism?

Mat 10:16-18 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Joh 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Joh 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Until we are given to see that we must endure until the end our desires will only fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Through this example of James, John and their mother, their question, commanding that is, they are trying to fulfill their desires. Even though the other ten disciples chastise them for asking such a question they all desired the same.

Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

Luk 9:46 And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest.

Christ’s answer to the matter is neither what the disciple’s nor what we want to hear at the beginning of our walk.

Mat 20:25-28 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. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

What did he say? We must become servants and die? Who in this world would name and claim dying and becoming a servant? Only those whom the Father prepares.

Mat 20:23 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.

As we all know and are coming to see clearly day by by that this life, in this age is a great tribulation. We are, while in this body of death, bound and determined to struggle. That being said, we are given the peace that surpasses all understanding. This peace will hold us up until the fullness of Christ’s coming is complete. As this process takes place we will be given the spirit of humbleness and will ask in his name, instead of commanding, be given the right to sit with Christ.

Joh 16:25-33 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Php 4:4-9 Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Rev 3:21-22 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Do you hear what the spirit is saying? The spirit is saying “humble yourself to become the greatest”.

Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The spirit is saying “ye ask amiss” and “humble yourself and you will be lifted up”.

Jas 4:1-10 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The spirit is saying “fight the good fight” and “keep the faith”.

2Ti 4:1-8 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

The spirit is saying “you will sorrow but your sorrow will be turned to joy”. Also notice the contrast of “ask” I mentioned earlier in the study.

Joh 16:16-24 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask (command G2067) me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask (beg, crave, desire – G154) the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked (G154) nothing in my name: ask (G154), and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.