Matthew 20

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

“The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard.

2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 ‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’

And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.’

5 So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.

So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly.

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.

Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’

7 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’

They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.’

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.’

And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.’

9 The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.

And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius.

10 So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.

Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius.

11 On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.

And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family,

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.’

saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and 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?

But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius?

14 Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.

Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to 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?’

And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?’

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

So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said,

And Jesus, ascending to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside in private and said to them:

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

“Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be handed over to the leaders of the priests and to the scribes. And they shall 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.”

And they shall hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified. And on the third day, he shall rise again.”

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him, with her sons, adoring him, and petitioning something from 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.”

And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these, my two sons, may sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

22 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered.

But Jesus, responding, said: “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the chalice, from which I will drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

23 “You will indeed drink My cup,” 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.”

He said to them: “From my chalice, indeed, you shall drink. But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to give to you, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

And the ten, upon hearing this, became 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.

But Jesus called them to himself and said: “You know that the first ones among the Gentiles are their rulers, and that those who are greater exercise power among them.

26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

It shall not be this way among you. But whoever will want to be greater among you, let him be your minister.

27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—

And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant,

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.”

even as the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a redemption for many.”

29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.

And as they were departing from Jericho, a great 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!”

And behold, two blind men, sitting by the way, heard that Jesus was passing by; and they cried out, saying, “Lord, Son of David, take pity 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!”

But the crowd rebuked them to be quiet. But they cried out all the more, saying, “Lord, Son of David, take pity on us.”

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

And Jesus stood still, and he called them and said, “What do you want, that I might do for you?”

33 “Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”

They said to him, “Lord, that our eyes be opened.”

34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.

Then Jesus, taking pity on them, touched their eyes. And immediately they saw, and they followed him.