The Parable of the Vineyard Workers

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.(A) After agreeing with the workers on one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine in the morning,[a] he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. To those men he said, ‘You also go to my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So off they went. About noon and at three,[b] he went out again and did the same thing. Then about five[c] he went and found others standing around,[d] and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.

“‘You also go to my vineyard,’ he told them.[e] When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay,(B) starting with the last and ending with the first.’[f]

“When those who were hired about five[g] 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!’(C)

13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius?(D) 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?[h] Are you jealous[i] because I’m generous?’[j](E)

16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”[k](F)

The Third Prediction of His Death

17 While going up to Jerusalem,(G) 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.(H) 19 Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles(I) to be mocked, flogged,[l] and crucified, and He will be resurrected[m] on the third day.”

Suffering and Service

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached Him with her sons.(J) She knelt down to ask Him for something.(K) 21 “What do you want?” He asked her.

“Promise,”[n] 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.”(L)

22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup[o] that I am about to drink?”[p](M)

“We are able,” they said to Him.

23 He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup.[q] 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.”(N) 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,(O) 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,(P) and to give His life—a ransom for many.”(Q)

Two Blind Men Healed

29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.(R) 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!”(S)

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.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:3 Lit about the third hour
  2. Matthew 20:5 Lit about the sixth hour and the ninth hour
  3. Matthew 20:6 Lit about the eleventh hour
  4. Matthew 20:6 Other mss add doing nothing
  5. Matthew 20:7 Other mss add ‘and you’ll get whatever is right.’
  6. Matthew 20:8 Lit starting from the last until the first
  7. Matthew 20:9 Lit about the eleventh hour
  8. Matthew 20:15 Lit with what is mine
  9. Matthew 20:15 Lit Is your eye evil; an idiom for jealousy or stinginess
  10. Matthew 20:15 Lit good
  11. Matthew 20:16 Other mss add For many are called, but few are chosen.”
  12. Matthew 20:19 Or scourged
  13. Matthew 20:19 Other mss read will rise again
  14. Matthew 20:21 Lit Say
  15. Matthew 20:22 Figurative language referring to His coming suffering; Mt 26:39; Jn 18:11
  16. Matthew 20:22 Other mss add and (or) to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
  17. Matthew 20:23 Other mss add and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like(A) a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.(B) He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came,(C) the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble(D) against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat(E) of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.(F) Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’(G)

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”(H)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(I)

17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem,(J) and the Son of Man(K) will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.(L) They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged(M) and crucified.(N) On the third day(O) he will be raised to life!”(P)

A Mother’s Request(Q)

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons(R) came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down,(S) asked a favor of him.

21 “What is it you want?” he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”(T)

22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup(U) I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup,(V) but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant(W) with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,(X) 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man(Y) did not come to be served, but to serve,(Z) and to give his life as a ransom(AA) for many.”

Two Blind Men Receive Sight(AB)

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David,(AC) have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:2 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer.