Matthew 20:24 Meaning and Explanation

The remaining ten disciples learn of the request and are moved with indignation against the two brothers. Their anger, however, is not high-minded. They are upset not because James and John craved honor, but likely because they wanted those same honors for themselves. The spirit of rivalry has spread through the whole company.

Here the misunderstanding shows itself to be shared by all twelve, not just two. The desire for greatness, and the resentment when someone else reaches for it first, is a common sickness of the human heart. The disciples stand on the road to Jerusalem, near the suffering Savior, still entangled in competition for rank. Their indignation sets the stage for Jesus to gather them and teach, plainly and unforgettably, the way of true greatness in His kingdom.