The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 20:1-34

 

Matthew 20:1 "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.

 

Matthew 20:2 After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

 

Matthew 20:3 Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

 

Matthew 20:4 and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.'

 

Matthew 20:5 So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise.

 

Matthew 20:6 Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

 

Matthew 20:7 They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'

 

Matthew 20:8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'

 

Matthew 20:9 When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage.

 

Matthew 20:10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.

 

Matthew 20:11 And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner,

 

Matthew 20:12 saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.'

 

Matthew 20:13 He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you.  Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?

 

Matthew 20:14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?

 

Matthew 20:15 (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?'

 

Matthew 20:16 Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

 

Matthew 20:17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve (disciples) aside by themselves, and said to them on the way,

 

Matthew 20:18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death,

 

Matthew 20:19 and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."

 

Matthew 20:20 Then the mother  of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

 

Matthew 20:21 He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."

 

Matthew 20:22 Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking.  Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can."

 

Matthew 20:23 He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left (, this) is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

 

Matthew 20:24 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers.

 

Matthew 20:25 But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

 

Matthew 20:26 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

 

Matthew 20:27 whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

 

Matthew 20:28 Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom  for many."

 

Matthew 20:29 As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

 

Matthew 20:30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "[Lord,]  Son of David, have pity on us!"

 

Matthew 20:31 The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!"

 

Matthew 20:32 Jesus stopped and called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

 

Matthew 20:33 They answered him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."

 

Matthew 20:34 Moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight, and followed him.