Mat 20 | ISV | STEP | The Workers in the Vineyard“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Matthew 20

1 The Workers in the Vineyard“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 for one denarius ^{▼▼The denarius was the usual day's wage for a laborer.} a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, ^{▼▼Lit. the third hour} he saw others standing in the marketplace without work. 4 He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard, too, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So off they went. He went out again about noon ^{▼▼Lit. the sixth hour} and about three o'clock ^{▼▼Lit. the ninth hour} and did the same thing. 6 About five o'clock ^{▼▼Lit. the eleventh hour} he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day long without work?’ 7 They told him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard as well.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with ^{▼▼Lit. and up to} the first.’ 9 Those who were hired at five o'clock ^{▼▼Lit. the eleventh hour} came, and each received a denarius. 10 When the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each received a denarius as well. 11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last fellows worked only one hour, yet you have made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ 13 But he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I'm not treating you unfairly. You did agree with me for a denarius, didn't you? 14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give this last man as much as I gave you. ^{▼▼Lit. to this last man as also to you} 15 I am allowed to do what I want with my own money, ^{▼▼Lit. things} am I not? Or is your eye evil ^{▼▼I.e. envious} because I am good?’Deut 15:9; Prov 23:6; Matt 6:23; Rom 9:21 16 In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.” ^{▼▼Other mss. lack For many are called, but few are chosen}Matt 19:30; 22:14

17 Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34When Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples ^{▼▼Other mss. lack disciples} aside and said to them on the way,Mark 10:32; Luke 18:31; John 12:12 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the high priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death.Matt 16:21 19 Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, whipped, and crucified, but on the third day he will be raised.”Matt 27:2; Mark 15:1, 16; Luke 23:1; John 18:28; Acts 3:13

20 The Request of the Mother of James and John Mark 10:35-45Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus ^{▼▼Lit. him} with her sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor.Matt 4:21; Mark 10:35 21 He asked her, “What do you want?”

She said to him, “Promise ^{▼▼Lit. Say} that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your kingdom.”Matt 19:28

22 Jesus replied, “You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink from the cup that I'm going to drink from?” ^{▼▼Other mss. read to drink from, or be baptized with the baptism with which I'm going to be baptized?}

They told him, “We can.”Matt 26:39, 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 12:50; 22:42; John 18:11

23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup. But it's not up to me to grant you a seat at my right hand or at my left. These positions have already been prepared for others by my Father.”Matt 25:34; Acts 12:2; Rom 8:17; 2Cor 1:7; Rev 1:9

24 When the ten heard this, they became furious with the two brothers.Mark 10:41; Luke 22:24-25 25 But Jesus called the disciples ^{▼▼Lit. them} and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their superiors act like tyrants over them. 26 That's not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,Matt 23:11; Mark 9:35; 10:43; 1Pet 5:3 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.Matt 18:4 28 That's the way it is with the Son of Man. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”Isa 53:10-11; Dan 9:24, 26; Matt 26:28; Luke 22:27; John 11:51-52; Rom 5:15, 19; Phil 2:7; 1Tim 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb 9:28; 1Pet 1:19

29 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus. ^{▼▼Lit. him}Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35 30 When two blind men who were sitting by the roadside heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Have mercy on us, Lord, ^{▼▼Other mss. read Jesus} Son of David!”Matt 9:27 31 The crowd sternly told them to be silent, but they shouted even louder, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 They told him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened!” 34 Then Jesus, deeply moved with compassion, touched their eyes and at once they could see again. So they followed him.