Mark 10:40
in Mark 10But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared.
KJV
But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
⋯
This verse in Mark 10
Commentary
12 notes on this verse(ubi sup.) Or else, it is not mine to give to you, that is, to proud persons, for such as yet they were. It is prepared for other persons, and be ye other, that is, lowly, and it is prepared for you.
This site's exposition
You do not know what you are asking
on Mark 10:38-40
Jesus answers a request for glory with the cup and the baptism, Old Testament figures for an overwhelming ordeal, often of judgment. You will drink the cup that I drink proved true, with James martyred and John enduring persecution and exile.
This site's exposition
for whom they have been prepared
John Wesley names those for whom the places are prepared. They are those who persevere in doing good and seek glory and immortality, as Romans 2:7 describes. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown add that asking for the seats only worked against gaining them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
And they answer Him, without understanding what He had said; wherefore it goes on: And they said unto him, We can; for they thought that He spoke of a visible cup, and of the baptism of which the Jews made use, that is, the washings before their meals.
To sit at my right hand or at my left hand is not mine to give to you, but to those for whom it is prepared, is thus to be understood: The kingdom of heaven is not for the giver, but for the receiver. For …
You, He says, will enter into the struggle of martyrdom and will die for the truth, "but to grant the seat is not for Me to give." But here two difficulties arise. The first: has this seat been prepared for anyone? The second: can it …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Save to them for whom it is prepared - Them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality. For these only eternal life is prepared.
But to sit on my right hand and on my left, is mine to give,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
Let us mark in this passage, the ignorance of our Lord's disciples . We find James and John petitioning for the first places in the kingdom of glory. We find them confidently declaring their ability to drink of their Master's cup and be baptized with their Master's baptism. In spite of all the plain warnings of our Lord, they clung obstinately to the belief that Christ's kingdom on earth was immediately going to appear. Notwithstanding their many shortcomings in Christ's service, they had no misgivings as to their power to endure any thing which might come upon them.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
All we are sure of is, that their asking it was displeasing to Him "to whom all judgment is committed," and so was not fitted to gain their object, but just the reverse.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
Let us mark in this passage, the ignorance of our Lord's disciples . We find James and John petitioning for the first places in the kingdom of glory. We find them confidently declaring their ability to drink of their Master's cup and be baptized with their Master's baptism. In spite of all the plain warnings of our Lord, they clung obstinately to the belief that Christ's kingdom on earth was immediately going to appear. Notwithstanding their many shortcomings in Christ's service, they had no misgivings as to their power to endure any thing which might come upon them. With all their faith, and grace, and love to Jesus, they neither knew their own hearts, nor the nature of the path before them. They still dreamed of temporal crowns, and earthly rewards. They still knew not what manner of men they were. There are few true Christians who do not resemble James and John, when they first begin the service of Christ. We are apt to expect far more present enjoyment from our religion, than the Gospel warrants us to expect. We are apt to forget the cross, and the tribulation, and to think only of the crown. We form an incorrect estimate of our own fortitude and power of endurance. We misjudge our own ability to stand temptation and trial. And the result of all is that we often buy wisdom dearly, by bitter experience, after many disappointments, and not a few falls. Let the case before us teach us the importance of a solid and calm judgment in our religion. Like James and John, we are right in coveting the best gifts, and in telling all our desires to Christ. Like them we are right in believing that Jesus is King of kings, and will one day reign upon the earth. But let us not, like them, forget that there is a cross to be borne by every Christian, and that "through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22.)
Is not mine to give - See on Mat 20:23 (note).
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | but | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καθίσαι | kathisai | to sit | G2523 → | 44 times |
| ἐκ | ek | at | G1537 → | 911 times |
| δεξιῶν | dexion | [the] right hand | G1188 → | 53 times |
| μου | mou | of Me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἐξ | ex | at | G1537 → | 911 times |
| εὐωνύμων | euonumon | [the] left hand | G2176 → | |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐμὸν | emon | Mine | G1473 → | 839 times |
| δοῦναι | dounai | to give | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but [to those] | G235 → | 635 times |
| οἷς | hois | for whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἡτοίμασται.¶ | hetoimastai | it has been prepared. | G2090 → | 40 times |
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
δὲbut
deG1161 →2765 times
καθίσαιto sit
kathisaiG2523 →44 times
ἐκat
ekG1537 →911 times
δεξιῶν[the] right hand
dexionG1188 →53 times
μουof Me
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ἐξat
exG1537 →911 times
εὐωνύμων[the] left hand
euonumonG2176 →
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἐμὸνMine
emonG1473 →839 times
δοῦναιto give
dounaiG1325 →412 times
ἀλλ᾽but [to those]
all᾽G235 →635 times
οἷςfor whom
hoisG3739 →1405 times
ἡτοίμασται.¶it has been prepared.
hetoimastaiG2090 →40 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 17:2For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
it leads to
- John 10:28–29
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- John 6:39
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.
- Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is…
- John 10:28–29
Through
John 17:24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
it leads to
- John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
- John 17:5
And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
- John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
- John 12:26
Through
Hebrews 11:16Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:34
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 25:34
Through
Matthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:19–20
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
- 1 Peter 1:19–20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies27
On this verse
On this chapter
- The Deity of Christ
- Elders and Deacons
- Entering the Kingdom
- Barnabas, a Good Man
- The Words Tov and Agathosyne
- Why He Said He Came
Show the next 6 titles
About Mark

This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.
