Note 3 at Mt. 20:22: The Greek word for cup, "poterion," denotes primarily a drinking vessel of any sort. However, "the cup" was a common Jewish metaphor used figuratively to describe the "undergoing" or "experience" of something such as salvation (Ps. 116:13), joy (Ps. 23:5), punishment (Ps. 11:6), wrath (Ps. 75:8; Isa. 51:17,22; Rev. 14:10; 16:19), shame (Hab. 2:16), fury (Jer. 25:15), abominations and filthiness (Rev. 17:4), consolation (Jer. 16:7), blessing (1 Cor. 10:16), and sorrow, astonishment, and desolation (Ezek. 23:33-34).

This phrase is frequently used in the New Testament for the sufferings of Christ (Mt. 20:22; 26:39,42; Mk. 10:38; 14:36; Lk. 22:42; Jn. 18:11). Jesus applied this figure to Himself (see note 6 at Lk. 12:50, p. 272), for He was to voluntarily suffer drinking the cup of God's judgment for our sins (Mk. 10:45; 14:36; 15:34). Likewise, James and John would share His sufferings even to the point of death but not in a redemptive sense. James was the first apostle to be martyred (Acts 12:2) and John endured many years of persecution and exile (Rev. 1:9).

Note 4 at Mt. 20:22: The Greek word for baptize is "baptizo." This word was used by Plato (fourth century B.C.) to describe a man being "overwhelmed" by philosophical arguments; by Hippocrates of people being "submerged" in water, or sponges being "dipped" in fluid; and by Strabo (first century B.C.) to describe people who could not swim as being "submerged" under water. Josephus in the first century A.D. used the word to describe the city of Jerusalem as being "overwhelmed" or "plunged" into destruction by the Romans; and Plutarch (also first century A.D.) used this word in referring to a person being "immersed" in the sea. In the Septuagint (the Greek version of the O.T.), "baptizo" is used to describe Naaman dipping himself in the Jordan River (2 Ki. 5:14).

From classical Greek right down to New Testament Greek, the same basic meaning has been retained: "to immerse, submerge, dip or plunge." Jesus is stating that the disciples will indeed be plunged into the same sufferings that He would be experiencing (see note 7 at Mt. 5:10, p. 73).