Them translates a masculine plural form of the pronoun, thereby directing Jesus’ remarks to the two brothers. It is better to make this specific, however, in verse 22, where the plural form of the verb (“[We] are able”) is introduced.
Translators can render drink my cup very much as they did in verse 22.
To sit at my right hand and at my left occurs initially in the Greek clause, thus making it emphatic. But this is not the natural position for an object in English, and so Good News Translation and a number of other modern English translations place this phrase following the verb to grant (Good News Translation “to choose who will sit at my right and my left”). For comments on at my right hand and at my left, see verse 21.
The impersonal construction, is not mine to grant, is transformed by Good News Translation to “I do not have the right to choose.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (“But I cannot decree who will sit on my right and on my left”) is similar in form to Good News Bible, while Barclay has “is not in my power to give you.”
But it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father: Good News Translation clarifies the referent of it … it and simultaneously shifts from a passive to an active construction: “These places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.” New Jerusalem Bible also makes explicit the meaning of the pronouns: “but as for seats at my right hand and at my left, these are not mine to grant….”
Prepared (so most translations) is best not given so specific a theological sense as “destined” (Moffatt, An American Translation); the primary meaning of the verb is “get ready” or “keep ready,” and Matthew uses it elsewhere of a road (3.3), of a meal (22.4; 26.17, 19), of eternal fire (25.41), and in a context much like the present one, of “the kingdom” (25.34). New English Bible has “assigned,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “allotted.” Overall, however, it seems best to use the most neutral term possible, such as “get ready” or “prepare.”
The latter part of this verse, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father, proves awkward in many languages because of the combinations of impersonal constructions and the passive voice. It may be necessary to restructure, for example, as “But my Father has reserved those places for those people he has chosen to be there,” “The people who will sit there are the ones whom my Father prepared the places for,” or even “My father chose the people he wants to sit there, and he prepared the places for them.”
My Father, of course, refers to God. It may be necessary to say “God my Father” or “my Father in heaven.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .