| Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible And he said unto them,.... And also to their mother, and to them by her, what would ye that I should do for you? Christ insists upon their telling him the particular thing they wanted to have done for them, before he would give them any promise, though he knew very well what it was they were desirous of.
Geneva Study BibleAnd he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
People's New Testament 10:35,36 James and John... come unto him, saying, etc. For notes on this ambitious request, see Mt 20:20-28. We learn from Matthew that Salome, the mother, came and spoke for them (Mt 20:20).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary36. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?-Though well aware what was in their mind and their mother's, our Lord will have the unseemly petition uttered before all.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary10:32-45 Christ's going on with his undertaking for the salvation of mankind, was, is, and will be, the wonder of all his disciples. Worldly honour is a glittering thing, with which the eyes of Christ's own disciples have many times been dazzled. Our care must be, that we may have wisdom and grace to know how to suffer with him; and we may trust him to provide what the degrees of our glory shall be. Christ shows them that dominion was generally abused in the world. If Jesus would gratify all our desires, it would soon appear that we desire fame or authority, and are unwilling to taste of his cup, or to have his baptism; and should often be ruined by having our prayers answered. But he loves us, and will only give his people what is good for them. | 
