Zebedee’s mother asks for right and left seats
On the request of the mother of Zebedee’s sons. The mother of the sons whom the Savior named Boanerges asked that one sit on his right and one on his left in his kingdom. To those who cannot search depths the petition looks simple; to deeper hearers Jesus’ answer also shows greatness. As in worldly kingship those seated with the king are honored, so the two apostles — still imperfect about Christ’s kingdom — supposed. But Jesus says: You do not know what you are asking and it is not mine to give, but for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.
Greek
Περὶ τῆς αἰτήσεως τῆς μητρὸς τῶν υἱῶν Ζεβεδαίου. Προσελθοῦσα ἡ μήτηρ τῶν υἱῶν Ζεβεδαίου (οὓς Βοανεργὲς ἐκάλεσεν ὁ Σωτήρ) ᾐτεῖτο ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων καθίσῃ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ. Τοῖς μὲν μὴ δυναμένοις βάθη ζητεῖν ἀπλότης δοκεῖ ἡ αἴτησις· τοῖς δὲ βαθυτέροις καὶ ἡ ἀπόκρισις τοῦ Ἰησοῦ μέγα τι ἐμφαίνει. Ὥσπερ ἐπὶ κοσμικῆς βασιλείας τιμῶνται οἱ συγκαθεζόμενοι τῷ βασιλεῖ, οὕτως ὑπέλαβον καὶ οἱ δύο ἀπόστολοι ἔτι ἀτελεῖς ὄντες περὶ τῆς βασιλείας Χριστοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς φησίν· «Οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε» καὶ «Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ’ οἷς ἡτοίμασται ὑπὸ τοῦ Πατρός μου.»
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on Matthew, Tomus XVI (Greek). Complete on this page: §§1–4.
English follows PG 13 (Migne) Greek. Heine was not used as wording. This page is Tomus XVI §§1–4 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 13 (Migne) — Greek (Greek · Tomus XVI §§1–4)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.