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When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
Matthew 20:24 · New Living Translation
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.
  • BSB When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
  • 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.

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 that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
  • 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
  • Jas 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
  • Prov 13:10Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.
  • Luke 22:23–25They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
  • Phil 2:3doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
  • 1 Cor 13:4Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
  • Mark 10:41When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards 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.