Matthew 20

₁ “For the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. ₂ When he had agreed to pay the laborers a denarius [a silver coin equal to the standard amount for a full day’s work], he sent them into his vineyard. ₃ As he went out about the third hour of the day [about 9:00 am], he saw others still standing unemployed in the marketplace. ₄ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will pay you.’ ₅ And so they went. And again, he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour [noon and _3:00 pm] and did the same thing. ₆ Near the end of the daylight, at about the eleventh hour, he went out and found yet others still standing around. He said to them, ‘Why have you been idly standing here all day?’ ₇ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘Go into the vineyard too.’ ₈ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ ₉ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received one denarius. ₁₀ And when those hired first finally came, they expected that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. ₁₁ When they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ₁₂ saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ ₁₃ But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me to work today for a denarius? ₁₄ Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last worker the same as I gave to you. ₁₅ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own money? Or is your eye envious because I am generous? ₁₆ So the last shall be first, and the first last.’”

Nearing His Final Hour, Jesus Foretold Again of His Betrayal, Condemnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection (20:17–19)

₁₇ When Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way, and said to them, ₁₈ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, ₁₉ and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, scourge, and crucify him. On the third day he will be resurrected.”

Jesus Responds to a Request of the Mother of James and John (20:20–28)

₂₀ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and after she bowed down, she made a request of him. ₂₁ He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said unto him, “Grant that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and one on your left.” ₂₂ Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ₂₃ He said to them, “You will drink my cup; but to sit on my right and on my left, this is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” ₂₄ And when the ten heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. ₂₅ But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the leaders of the Gentiles rule over their people, and their great men exercise authority over their citizens. ₂₆ It will not be that way among you, but rather, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant, ₂₇ and whoever wishes to be first among you 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.”

The Healing of Two Blind Men (20:29–34)

₂₉ As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him, ₃₀ and behold, two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” ₃₁ The crowd ordered them to be quiet, but they cried out even more and said, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” ₃₂ After Jesus stopped, he called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” ₃₃ They said to him, “Lord, we wish that our eyes may be opened.” ₃₄ And being moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they looked up and followed him.