Who Made the Request to sit at Jesus’ Right Hand?

Full Question

In Matthew, the mother of Zebedee’s children said, “Lord, let these my two sons sit the one on thy right hand and the other on the left in thy kingdom,” but Mark says that James and John themselves made the request. Which is the true report?


Answer

We believe that both reports are true, despite their seeming incompatibility.

The most reasonable explanation seems to be that Salome, Zebedee’s wife, made the request at the instigation of her sons, James and John. The mother asked for her sons that which they themselves were apparently afraid to ask. It will be noticed from Matthew 20:20 that Salome “worshipped” Jesus, an act of homage which implied her recognition of his kingship. The disciples in those days “expected that the kingdom of God would immediately appear,” and it may be that such a belief would urge Salome to make the request, lest the hesitancy of her sons would cause them to postpone making the request until it was too late.