Matthew 20

The Parable of the Vineyard Workers

1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the workers on one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine in the morning, he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 To those men he said, 'You also go to my vineyard, and I'll give you whatever is right.' So off they went. 5 About noon and at three, he went out again and did the same thing.

6 Then about five he went and found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?'

7 "'Because no one hired us,' they said to him.
"'You also go to my vineyard,' he told them.

8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, 'Call the workers and give them their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first.'
9 "When those who were hired about five came, they each received one denarius. 10 So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. 11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner:

12 'These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!'
13 "He replied to one of them, 'Friend, I'm doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me on a denarius? 14 Take what's yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.

15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my business? Are you jealous because I'm generous?'

16 "So the last will be first, and the first last."

The Third Prediction of His Death

17 While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the 12 disciples aside privately and said to them on the way: 18 "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death.

19 Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and He will be resurrected on the third day."

Suffering and Service

20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached Him with her sons. She knelt down to ask Him for something.

21 "What do you want?" He asked her.
"Promise," she said to Him, "that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom."

22 But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"
"We are able," they said to Him.
23 He told them, "You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father." 24 When the 10 [disciples] heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them over and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life-a ransom for many."

Two Blind Men Healed

29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

31 The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
33 "Lord," they said to Him, "open our eyes!"

34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.

Matthew 20

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;4 and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.8 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,12 saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.13 But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?14 Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them,18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,19 and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

20 Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.23 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29 And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.31 And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.