Matthew 20

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

For the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to get workers into his vine-garden.

2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And when he had made an agreement with the workmen for a penny a day, he sent them into his vine-garden.

3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others in the market-place doing nothing;

4 He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.

And he said to them, Go into the vine-garden with the others, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went to work.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same.

6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’

And about the eleventh hour he went out and saw others doing nothing; and he says to them, Why are you here all the day doing nothing?

7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’

They say to him, Because no man has given us work. He says to them, Go in with the rest, into the vine-garden.

8 “When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’

And when evening came, the lord of the vine-garden said to his manager, Let the workers come, and give them their payment, from the last to the first.

9 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

And when those men came who had gone to work at the eleventh hour, they were given every man a penny.

10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

Then those who came first had the idea that they would get more; and they, like the rest, were given a penny.

11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

And when they got it, they made a protest against the master of the house,

12 saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’

Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

But he in answer said to one of them, Friend, I do you no wrong: did you not make an agreement with me for a penny?

14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

Take what is yours, and go away; it is my pleasure to give to this last, even as to you.

15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’

Have I not the right to do as seems good to me in my house? or is your eye evil, because I am good?

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

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

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

And when Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples on one side, 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,

See, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be given into the hands of the chief priests and scribes; and they will give orders for him to be put to death,

19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”

And will give him up to the Gentiles to be made sport of and to be whipped and to be put to death on the cross: and the third day he will come back again from the dead.

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, giving him worship and making a request of him.

21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”

And he said to her, What is your desire? She says to him, Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.”

But Jesus made answer and said, You have no idea what you are requesting. Are you able to take of the cup which I am about to take?

23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

They say to him, We are able. He says to them, Truly, you will take of my cup: but to be seated at my right hand and at my left is not for me to give, but it is for those for whom my Father has made it ready.

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

And when it came to the ears of the ten, they were angry with the two brothers.

25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

But Jesus said to them, You see that the rulers of the Gentiles are lords over them, and their great ones have authority over them.

26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

Let it not be so among you: but if anyone has a desire to become great among you, let him be your servant;

27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,

And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him take the lowest place:

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Even as the Son of man did not come to have servants, but to be a servant, and to give his life for the salvation of men.

29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

And when they were going out from Jericho, a great number went after him.

30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”

And two blind men seated by the wayside, when they had the news that Jesus was going by, gave a loud cry, saying, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.

31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!”

And the people gave them orders to be quiet; but they went on crying even louder, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.

32 Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

And Jesus, stopping, sent for them, and said, What would you have me do to you?

33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”

They say to him, Lord, that our eyes may be open.

34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.

And Jesus, being moved with pity, put his fingers on their eyes: and straight away they were able to see, and went after him.