Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 20:23

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptisme 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.

Mark hath the same Ch. 10.39, 40. Our Savior here tells them, that as he was first to Suffer and then enter into his Glory; so they that should be glorified with him, should also first suffer with him, for none shall be Crowned, but those who strive Lawfully, 2 Tim. 2.5. And all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. But who should be highest in the Kingdom of Glory, his Father must determine upon whose Will, the disposal of his Kingdom, and the preferences in it depended. This Text hath been abused, by those who have denied Christ's Deity, and Equality to the Father, as if it served their Purpose: Because Christ here denieth it in his Power, to dispose of the Kingdom of Heaven; but besides that, he elsewhere asserts the contrary. Ioh. 10.28. & 17.2▪ Christ doth not here speak of what was in his Power but what was his Office as Mediator, so his work was to incourage them to fight the good Fight, not to dispense out Crowns to them. Or else, he speaketh of himself as Man, as he speaketh, Ioh. 14.28. Nor indeed doth Christ here deny, that it was in his Power, but only that it was in his Power, to give this preference to any, except those for whom his Father had prepared it: Note the Greek is, [non-Latin text not transcribed], That is, Is not mine to give, but to them for whom it is prepared: So that those words [it shall be given to them] which our Translators put in, were better left out. All this was before ordered and determined by God, and he could only dispose of the Kingdom of God, according to the Eternal Council, [non-Latin text not transcribed] (which we translate but) hath here the Force of [non-Latin text not transcribed] (unless) as in Mar. 9.8. 2 Cor. 2.5. Besides that to shew the Order of the Trinity in working; Acts of Power and Providence, are usually ascribed to the Father, tho by other Scriptures it appears, that the Son in them co-operateth with the Father.

Marginal references: Chap. 25.34.