Matthew 20

Laborers in the Vineyard

1“For 1the kingdom of heaven is like 2a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his 3vineyard. 2When he had agreed with the laborers for a 4denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the 5third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5Again he went out about the 6sixth and the ninth hour, and did 7the same thing. 6And about the 8eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

8“When 9evening came, the 10owner of the vineyard said to his 11foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ 9When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a 12denarius. 10When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; 13but each of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the 14scorching heat of the day.’ 13But he answered and said to one of them, ‘15Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your 16eye 17envious because I am 18generous?’ 16So 19the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Death, Resurrection Foretold

1720As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man 21will be 22delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19and 23will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on 24the third day He will be raised up.”

Preferment Asked

2025Then the mother of 26the sons of Zebedee came to 27Jesus with her sons, 28bowing down and making a request of Him. 21And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine 29may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” 22But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able 30to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23He said to them, “31My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, 32but it is for those for whom it has been 33prepared by My Father.”

24And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 2534But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26It is not this way among you, 35but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as 36the Son of Man 37did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His 38life a ransom for many.”

Sight for the Blind

2939As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, 40have mercy on us, 41Son of David!” 31The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, 42Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” 34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.