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 marketplace; 4and to those he said, ‘You go into the vineyard also, 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“Now when 9evening came, the 10owner of the vineyard said to his 11foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, starting with the last group to the first.’ 9When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a 12denarius. 10And so when 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 who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day’s work and the 14scorching heat.’ 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 want to give to this last person the same as to you. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I want 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 road He said to them, 18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man 21will be 22handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19and they 23will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on 24the third day He will be raised up.”

Request for Preferred Treatment

2025Then the mother of 26the 27sons of Zebedee came to 28Jesus with her sons, 29bowing down and making a request of Him. 21And He said to her, “What do you desire?” She said to Him, “Say that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine 30shall sit, one at Your right, and one at Your left.” 22But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able 31to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23He said to them, “32My cup you shall drink; but to sit at My right and at My left is not Mine to give, 33but it is for those for whom it has been 34prepared by My Father.”

24And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers. 2535But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and 36those in high position exercise authority over them. 26It 37is not this way among you, 38but whoever wants to become 39prominent among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as 40the Son of Man 41did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His 42life as a ransom for many.”

Sight for Those Who Are Blind

2943As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30And two people who were blind, sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, 44have mercy on us, 45Son of David!” 31But the crowd sternly warned them to be quiet; yet they cried out all the more, “Lord, 46Son 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.