What does Matthew 20:24 mean?

The remaining ten disciples become indignant when they hear that James and John, through their mother, have asked Jesus to name them to the seats on His left and right hand in His kingdom. Jesus has told the brothers He did not have the authority to grant their request. God the Father will decide that. Still, the fact that the brothers have even asked is enough to fire up the rest of the group. The brothers have made a play to have Jesus declare the two of them the most important of the Twelve (Matthew 20:20–23).

The disciples had argued among themselves before about who among them was the greatest, likely thinking of positions of power in Jesus' political kingdom on earth (Mark 9:33–37). In fact, they had tried to hide their argument from Jesus that time. This time, though, James and John had used strategy and, likely, a family connection to Jesus, to try to decide the issue in their favor once and for all. Scholars believe their mother might have been Salome (Matthew 27:56; John 19:25), who was possibly Jesus' aunt through His mother, Mary.

Jesus will explain in the following verses what strategy the disciples should use if they sincerely want to become the greatest among them.