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When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Matthew 20:24 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
  • KJV And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
  • NKJV And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.
  • NASB And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers.
  • NLT When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The other ten disciples become indignant at the two brothers. Their anger exposes that the same ambition lurks in them all.

Overview

The ten's indignation is less about humility than rivalry—they too want the top places. The whole group is gripped by a worldly hunger for status, even as Jesus heads to the cross. This shared failing prompts Jesus to teach all of them the upside-down greatness of his Kingdom.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Jas 4:5–6Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
  • 1 Pet 5:5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
  • Jas 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
  • Prov 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
  • Luke 22:23–25Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.
  • Phil 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
  • 1 Cor 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
  • Mark 10:41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 20:24YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 20:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.