Mark 10:39

10:39 James and John did indeed drink a bitter cup . . . of suffering for Jesus. James died for his faith (Acts 12:1-5). John died an old man, having experienced persecution (Tertullian, The Soul 50; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians 6, 10). Yet the death of James and John was not the same as that of Jesus—no believer can die Jesus’ death as a vicarious sacrifice for the sins of the world (Mark 10:45) or experience the divine wrath as he did (15:34).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(39) And with the baptism.—Here, as before, the clause is omitted in the best MSS. of St. Matthew, and is therefore, strictly speaking, peculiar to St. Mark.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

39. And they said unto him, We can] They knew not at the time what they said, and their words were recorded in heaven. They had yet to learn how serious their words were, and afterwards they were enabled to drink of that Cup, and to be baptized with that Baptism. To St James was given strength to be steadfast unto death, and be the first martyr of the Apostolic band (Act_12:2); to St John (a) to bear bereavement, first, of his brother, then of the other Apostles; (b) to bear a length of years in loneliness and exile in sea-girt Patmos (Rev_1:9); and (c) then to die last of the Apostles, as St James first.

the cup] Comp. Joh_18:11, “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” and Mar_14:36, “Take away this cup from me.” Their thoughts were fastened on thrones and high places; His on a Cup of Suffering and a baptism of blood. For this use of the word “baptism” here, compare Luk_12:50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Jesus called them to him,.... Who were at some little distance from him, though so nigh, that he could discern the heat and passion they were in, and knowing that they had the same ambitious views with the two brethren:

and saith unto them, to check their pride and vanity and reprove them for their ambitious desires of superiority and pre-eminence over, one another; by showing them that this was a part which the Heathens that knew not God acted and therefore was very unbecoming them:

you know that they which are accounted, or "seem to" or rather "do",

rule over the Gentiles; or are reckoned worthy of government who are, men of honour, reputation, and esteem; who are either by birth or merit thought to be deserving of high places: these

exercise lordship over them; rule over them in a lordly tyrannical and arbitrary way:

and their great ones; their nobles and lords under them

exercise authority over them; the Gentiles; by a delegated power from those who have the supreme rule; See Gill on Mat 20:25.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

Ver. 39. Ye shall indeed drink of the cup] But not of that bitter cup of his Father’s wrath, which he drank off in his passion. Only the saints fill up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ, Col 1:24, υστερηματα, non προτερηματα.

Ye shall be baptized] And come out of the waters of affliction with as little hurt as a babe doth out of the water in baptism, by the help of divine grace.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

James and John seem to have understood the meaning of the cup; and perhaps also of the baptism. They both of them drank the cup, though in different ways. St. James, preaching Christ more boldly and fervently, became an early martyr, having been slain by the sword of Herod. (Act_12:2) St. John also drank of this cup, and was baptized with this baptism, when, if we may trust the authority of Tertullian ("De Praescript." c. 36.). He he was cast by order of Domitian into a caldron of boiling oil, before the Porta Latina at Rome, although the oil had no power to hurt him. Another legend states that he drank a cup of poison, and took no harm. On this account he is frequently represented with a cup in his hand.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

39. Δυνάμεθα. The bold answer is the same in both Gospels; but A.V. suggests a difference, “We are able” (Mt.), “We can” (Mk); and so also in the preceding question.

πίεσθε … βαπτισθήσεσθε. As in the case of the rich man (Mar 10:20-21), Christ does not question the estimate which James and John have formed of their own characters, nor does He say that all will be of equal rank in the Kingdom. He tells them that they will share His sufferings, and that it is the Father who will assign places in the Kingdom. But the statement with regard to the sufferings is indefinite, and it is forcing the meaning to call it a prediction that the brothers will be put to death for their belief in Jesus Christ. There is no such prediction, and therefore no difficulty as to its non-fulfilment in the case of John. Both suffered, and James was killed by Herod Agrippa I. (Act 12:2). John was imprisoned and beaten (Act 4:3; Act 5:18; Act 5:40), was banished to Patmos (Rev 1:9), and continued to confess Christ through a long life. The stories of his having been thrown into a caldron of boiling oil (Tert. De Praescr. 36; Jer. C. Jovin. i. 26), and of his having drunk poison in the presence of Domitian (Acta Johannis), probably arose from a desire to find a literal fulfilment of the baptism and the cup. The statement that Papias said that both John and James were slain by the Jews rests on poor authority; if he did say it, he was probably drawing an inference from Christ’s declaration that both brothers should drink His cup. J. A. Robinson, Hist. Character of St John’s Gospel, p. 79. The belief that Jesus had declared that John would not die could not have become current if John had been slain with James. Nor in that case would the Gospel according to the Hebrews have said that James alone was to drink Christ’s cup. Syr-Sin. here has “Ye may be able to drink … ye may be able to be baptized,” and Syr-Cur. has the same, Mat 20:23. This change was doubtless made to meet the difficulty that John was not put to death.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

39. Τὸ ποτήριον … πίεσθε· καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα … βαπτισθήσεσθε—The cup … you will drink; and with the baptism … you will be baptized. Of this Jesus can assure them, that they will share his sufferings.

Omit μὲν before ποτήριον Tisch. Treg. WH. RV. א BC* L Δ mss. Vulg. Memph. Pesh.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.