MATTHEW 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together “in my name”, there am I in the midst of them.
NOW BRETHREN, IT’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO STUDY THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES CAREFULLY, IN THE CONTEXT OF “IN MY NAME”.
MATTHEW 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of him. 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
NOW OBSERVE THAT ALTHOUGH THREE WERE GATHERED TOGETHER, THEY WERE NOT GATHERED TOGETHER IN JESUS NAME, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE IN HIS IMMEDIATE PRESENCE. THAT’S BECAUSE THEY CAME FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING TH HIGHEST PLACE IN THE KINGDOM, AND THAT MOTIVE CAUSED THEIR GATHERING TO BE OUT OF SYNC WITH “JESUS’ NAME.
NEITHER WAS THEIR REQUEST MADE “IN JESUS NAME” EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MADE DIRECTLY TO JESUS; AND THEREFORE, CHRIST COULD NOT GRANT IT. REQUESTS TO GOD THAT ARE MADE WITH THE INTENTION OF EXALTING OURSELVES ABOVE OTHERS, ARE NOT IN HARMONY WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF THE MOST HIGH IS ONE THAT IS CENTERED IN SERVICE TO OTHERS.
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.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!