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 an employer who went out in the early morning to hire labourers for his vineyards.

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

He agreed with the labourers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard.

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

On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing 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.

‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’

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

So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o’clock, he did as before.

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?’

When he went out about five, he found some other men standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, 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.’

‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said.

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.’

In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward ‘Call the labourers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.

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

Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two shillings each.

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

So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two shillings each;

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

on which they began to grumble at their employer.

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!’

‘These last,’ they said, ‘have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.’

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

‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings?

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 belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same 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 not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?’

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

So those who are 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,

When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way:

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,

“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law, and they will condemn him 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 give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.”

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 Zebediah’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favour.

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.”

“What is it that you want?” he asked. “I want you to say,” she replied, “that in your Kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.”

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.”

“You do not know what you are asking,” was Jesus’ answer. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?” “Yes,” they exclaimed, “we can.”

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.”

“You shall indeed drink my cup,” he said, “but as to a seat at my right and at my left — that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

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

On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about 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.

Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said: “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their great men oppress them.

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

Among you it is not so.

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

No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave;

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.”

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

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

As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed 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!”

Two blind men who were sitting by the road-side, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”

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!”

The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”

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

Then Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he said.

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

“Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.”

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

So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.