Matthew 20
1 “[In order to illustrate how God rewards people], I will compare [the way] God [MTY/EUP] rules his people with what the owner of an estate [did]. Early in the morning the owner of the estate went to [the market] where [people who wanted work gathered]. He went there to hire laborers to work in his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
2 He promised the men whom he hired that he would pay them the standard wage [for working] one day. Then he sent them to his vineyards.
"And when he had agreed with the workmen for two shillings a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 At nine o’clock [that same morning] he went back [to the market]. There he saw more men who did not have work.
"About nine o’clock he went out and noticed some other workmen standing idle in the market-place;
4 He said to them, ‘Go to my vineyard as other men have done, [and work there]. I will pay you whatever is a just [wage].’ [So they also went to his vineyard and began to work].
"and he said to them, "‘Do you also go into the vineyard, and whatever is just I will pay you.’
5 At noon and at three o’clock he again went [to the market] and found [other laborers whom he promised to pay a fair wage].
"So they went. Again at noon, and about three o’clock, he went out and did the same thing.
6 At five o’clock he went [to the market again] and saw other [men] standing [there who were not working]. He said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day and not working?’
"When he went out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "‘Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?’
7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘[I will hire you]. Go to my vineyard as other men have done, [and work there.’ So they went].
"‘Because no one has hired us,’ they replied. "He said to them, ‘Do you also go into the vineyard.’
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Tell the men to come so that you can give them their wages. First, pay the men who started working last, and pay the men last who started working first.’
"And when evening came, the Lord of the vineyard said to his steward, "‘Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first.’
9 The [manager] paid the standard daily wage to each of the men who did not start working until five o’clock [in the afternoon].
"When those came who had begun at five o’clock, they received two shillings apiece;
10 When the men who had begun working early [in the morning] went [to get their wages], they thought that they would receive more than the standard wage. But they also received only the standard wage.
"and when the first came they supposed that they would get more, but they also received each two shillings.
11 So they complained to the owner of the vineyard [because they thought their payment was unfair].
"And as they took it they began to grumble against the master of the house.
12 They said [to him], ‘[You are not being fair!] The men who started working after [all of the rest of us started] worked for [only] one hour! You have [paid] them the same [wage] as [you paid] us! But we worked hard [all] day [IDM], [including working in the] hottest part of the day!’
"‘Those last men,’ they said, ‘have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.’
13 The owner of the vineyard said to one of those [who complained], ‘Friend, I did not treat you unfairly. You agreed with me [to work the whole day] for the standard wage [RHQ].
"In reply he said to one of them. ‘My friend, I am doing no wrong. Did you not agree with me for two shillings?
14 [Stop complaining to me]! Take your wage and go! I desire to give the same wage that I gave you to the men who began working after all of you [had begun working].
"Take your wage and begone! I chose to give to this last man the same as to you.
15 I certainly have a right to [spend my money] as I desire [RHQ], [including paying those laborers what I desire to pay them]. (You should not be envious about my being generous!/Are you angry [MET] because I am generous?) [RHQ]’”
"Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?’
16 [Then Jesus said to us], “Similarly, [God will reward] well [some] people who [seem to be] less important now, and he will not reward [some] people who [seem to be] more important [now].”
"So the last shall be first, and the first, last."
17 When Jesus was walking [on the road] up to Jerusalem, [along with us] twelve [disciples], he took us to a place by ourselves [in order that he could talk to us privately]. Then he said to us,
When Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside by themselves, and as they went he said to them.
18 “Listen carefully! We are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there, someone] will enable the chief priests and the men who teach the [Jewish] laws to seize [me], the one who came from heaven, [and they will put me on trial]. They will condemn me [and say] that I should be killed {the authorities should kill me}.
"Look! We are on the way up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death,
19 [Then they] will put me in the hands of non-Jews so that they can make fun of me, whip me, [and kill me by] nailing me to a cross. But on the third day [after that], [God] will cause me to live again.”
"and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise from the grave."
20 Then the mother of James and John brought her two sons to Jesus. She bowed down before Jesus and asked him to do her a favor.
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, kneeling down and begging a favor of him.
21 Jesus said to her, “What do you want [me to do for you]?” She said to him, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit next to you (OR, Permit these two sons of mine to sit next to you at your right side and at your left side) [and rule with you] [MTY] when you become king.”
"What is it you wish?" he said. She answered, "Command that these my two sons may sit upon your right hand and your left in your kingdom."
22 Jesus said to [her and her sons], “You do not understand what you are asking for. Can you suffer like I am about to suffer [IDM]?” [James and John] answered him, “Yes, we are able [to do that].”
23 Then Jesus said to them, “Yes, you will suffer as I will suffer [IDM]. But I am not the one who chooses the ones who [will] sit next to me [and rule with me]. [God], my Father, will give those places [MTY] to the ones whom he appoints.”
"None of you indeed shall drink," he answered, "but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
24 When we ten [other disciples] heard [what James and John had requested], we became angry with them [because we also wanted to rule with Jesus in the highest positions].
When the ten heard of this, they were indignant at the two brothers;
25 [So] Jesus called all of us together and said [to us], “You know that those who rule the non-Jews [enjoy] showing them that they are powerful. Their chief rulers [enjoy] commanding the people under them.
but Jesus called them to him and said. "You know how the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
26 You [should] not be like them. On the contrary, everyone among you who wants [God to consider] him great must become [like] a servant for [the rest of] you.
"Not so shall it be among you. But whoever among you wishes to become great, shall be your minister,
27 And everyone among you who wants [God to consider him] to be the most important must become [like] a slave for [the rest of] you.
"and whoever wishes to be first among you, shall be your slave;
28 [You should imitate me]. [Even though I am] the one who came from heaven, I did not come to be served {in order that people would serve me}. On the contrary, I [came in order] to serve [others] and to [IDM] allow myself to be killed {other people to kill me}, so that [my dying would be like] a payment to rescue many [people from being punished for their sins].” [MTY]
"just as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
29 As we were leaving Jericho [city], a large crowd of people followed [us].
Now as they were leaving Jericho a great crowd followed him.
30 [As we walked along, we saw] two blind men sitting alongside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they yelled [to him], “Lord, Descendant of [King] David, [you are the Messiah] Take pity on us!”
And two blind men, sitting by the side of the road, heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried out, "Have pity on us, Master, Son of David!"
31 [People in] the crowd scolded them [and] told them to be quiet. But the blind men yelled even louder, “Lord, Descendant of [King] David, [you are the Messiah] Have pity on us!”
But the crowd checked them, to make them keep still. They cried out all the louder, saying, "Master, have pity on us, Son of David!"
32 Jesus stopped and called them [to come to him]. [Then] he said [to them], “What do you want me to do for you?”
Then Jesus stopped and called to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"
33 They said to him, “Lord, heal our eyes [IDM] [so that we can see]!”
"Master," they answered, "let our eyes be opened."
34 Jesus [felt] sorry [for them and] touched their eyes. Immediately they were able to see, and they went with Jesus.
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and they saw at once, and followed him.
