Matthew 20 (BSB)

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.And he went out about the third hour, and 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 said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

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

6About 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.And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8When 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.’So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

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 wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said,And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto 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 deathBehold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

19and 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 shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of 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 unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy 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 answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto 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.”And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25But 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 unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28just 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 came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

30And 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 side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

31The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

32Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33“Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Matthew 20

The Parable of the Workers

The Third Prediction of the Passion

A Mother’s Request

The Blind Men by the Road

You’ve read Matthew 20

Go deeper

Matthew 20

The Parable of the Workers

The Third Prediction of the Passion

A Mother’s Request

The Blind Men by the Road

You’ve read Matthew 20

Go deeper