Matthew 20:21

‘And he said to her, ‘What is your wish?' She says to him, ‘Command that these my two sons may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your kingly rule.” '

When Jesus indicates His willingness to hear what she has to say she asks Him to ‘command' that her two sons have the places of privilege when He takes up His kingship, one on the right hand and the other on the left. She assumes that He will have autonomous power, and will be able to command what He wants. This suggestion fits well with Jesus having mentioned twelve thrones, for it indicates that she is not seeking a unique position for them, only one of special privilege among ‘equals', which even now they appear partly to enjoy (and John will have the favoured place at the Last Supper). After all someone has to have them, why not then her sons? Her very request brings out the growing sense that was permeating the wider group that Jesus was planning something special when He arrived at Jerusalem.

For the idea of being on the right hand and on the left hand compare Nehemiah 8:4. See also Psalms 16:11; Psalms 45:9; Psalms 110:1; Matthew 26:64; Acts 7:55. In Josephus there is an example of a king whose eldest son sits on his right hand, and his army commander sits on his left. Matthew probably intends his readers to compare these words with his words in Matthew 27:38, where those who are on His right hand and His left may be seen as sharing in His sufferings. No wonder Jesus says, ‘you do not know what you are asking'.

The request indicates that at this stage at least, the Apostles had no conception of Peter as being in a settled position as their official leader, and the two might well have felt that his gaffes (Matthew 16:22; Matthew 17:4; Matthew 19:27) had opened up the way for them.

Note the mention of ‘two sons' which parallels in the section chiasmus the later parable of the ‘two sons' (Matthew 21:28), and in the local chiasmus the ‘two brothers' (Matthew 20:24). While possibly a little embarrassed they are standing by hoping for the best. And it is therefore to them that Jesus turns in order to dispose of the question once for all. For He knows that they have been very much involved in their mother coming to Him.