By: Robert Serreyn

Question? In Matthew 20:22 what is the Cup and Baptism that Jesus is refering to?

(Matthew 20:23) And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Answer:

In V20 & 21The request was made to Jesus by Zebedee’s mother’s for her two sons, that they would sit one on the Right side and the other on the Left side of Christ in heaven.

Little was she prepared for the answer she recieved (Ye know not what ye ask)The Lord Jesus SHOCKED THEM with his CONFRONTING STATEMENT.

Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

In their Lack of Understanding without knowing the full implications of what Jesus meant they replied to the Lord’s statement with the answer “We are able”.

Then in V23 Christ said Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.

The Cup is in reference to the severe Persecutions that not only that he (Christ) endured during his three year earthly ministry and his eventual crucifixtion but that they would also recieve the same treatment as his followers.

(Luke 21:12) But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

(John 15:20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

The Baptism is in reference to his death and crucifixtion upon the cross, and the disciples all but one the Apostle John (exiled to the Isle of Patmos where he recieved divine inspiration to write the Book of Revelation) suffered a martyrs death (Read Fox’s Book of Martyrs).

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH