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. a 2After agreeing with the workers on one ▼▼denarius: A small silver Roman coin, which was equal to a day's wage for a common laborer
denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine in the morning, ▼▼Lit about the third hour
he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4To 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, ▼▼Lit about the sixth hour and the ninth hour
he went out again and did the same thing. 6 Then about five ▼▼Lit about the eleventh hour
he went and found others standing around, ▼▼Other mss add doing nothing
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. ▼▼Other mss add ‘and you’ll get whatever is right.’
8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, h starting with the last and ending with the first.’ ▼▼Lit starting from the last until the first
9“When those who were hired about five ▼▼Lit about the eleventh hour
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. 11When 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!’ k 13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? l 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? ▼▼Lit with what is mine
Are you jealous ▼▼Lit Is your eye evil; an idiom for jealousy or stinginess
because I’m generous?’ ▼▼Lit good
,
p 16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.” ▼▼Other mss add For many are called, but few are chosen.”
,
r The Third Prediction of His Death
17 While going up to Jerusalem, s 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: The most frequent title Jesus used for Himself; Dn 7:13
Son of Man will be handed over to the ▼▼chief priest(s): A group of Jewish temple officers that included the highpriest, captain of the temple, temple overseers, and treasurers
chief priests and ▼▼scribe(s): A professional group in Judaism that copied the law of Moses and interpreted it, especially in legal cases
scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. w 19 Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles x to be mocked, flogged, ▼▼Or scourged
and crucified, and He will be resurrected ▼▼Other mss read will rise again
on the third day.” Suffering and Service
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached Him with her sons. aa She knelt down to ask Him for something. ab 21 “What do you want?” He asked her.“Promise,” ▼▼Lit Say
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.” ad 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?” ▼▼Other mss add and (or) to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
,
ag“We are able,” they said to Him. 23He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. ▼▼Other mss add and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.
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.” ai 24When 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. 26It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, aj 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your ▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.
slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, al and to give His life – a ransom for many.” am Two Blind Men Healed
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. an 30There 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!” ao 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!” 34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.
Copyright information for
HCSB