Mat 20 | BSB | STEP | For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in [the] morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Matthew 20

The Parable of the 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 He agreed [to pay] [them] a denarius ^{▼▼A denarius was customarily a day's wage for a laborer} for the day [and] sent them into his vineyard. 3 About the third hour he went out [and] saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 ‘You also go into [my] vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. He went out again about [the] sixth [hour] and [the] ninth hour [and] did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh [hour] he went out [and] found still others standing [around] . ‘Why have you been standing here all day [long] doing nothing?’ he asked. 7 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into [my] vineyard.’ ^{▼▼BYZ and TR include and whatever is right, you shall receive.} 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them [their] wages, starting with the last [ones hired] and moving on to the first.’ 9 [The workers who were hired] about the eleventh hour came [and] each received a denarius. 10 So when the original [workers] came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius. 11 On receiving [their pay] , they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These [men who were hired] last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? 14 Take your [pay] and go. I want to give this last [man] the same as [I gave] you. 15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what [is] mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first [will be] last.” ^{▼▼BYZ and TR include For many are called, but few are chosen.}

The Third Prediction of the Passion

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said, 18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death 19 and will deliver Him {over} to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised [to life] .”

A Mother's Request

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to [Jesus] with her sons [and] knelt down to make a request of Him. 21 “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and [the other] at Your left.” 22 “vvv You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” ^{▼▼BYZ includes or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. TR is similar.} “We can,” [the brothers] answered. 23 “vvv You will indeed drink My cup,” ^{▼▼BYZ and TR include and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with} [Jesus] said. “But to sit at My right [or] left is not Mine to grant. [These seats belong] to those for whom My Father has prepared them.” 24 When the ten heard about [this] , they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them aside [and] said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and [their] superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, 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 [as] a ransom for many.”

The Blind Men by the Road

29 [As] they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 And there were two blind [men] sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out 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, “let our eyes be opened.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.