1 “The kingdom from a20:1 Lit. of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ISV — Matthew 20:1
2 After agreeing to pay the workers one denarius b20:2 The denarius was the usual day’s wage for a laborer. a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ISV — Matthew 20:2
3 When he went out about nine o’clock, c20:3 Lit. the third hour he saw others standing in the marketplace without work. ISV — Matthew 20:3
4 He told them, ‘You go into the vineyard, too, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ISV — Matthew 20:4
5 So off they went. He went out again about noon d20:5 Lit. the sixth hour and about three o’clock e20:5 Lit. the ninth hour and did the same thing. ISV — Matthew 20:5
6 About five o’clock f20:6 Lit. the eleventh hour he went out and found some others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why are you standing here all day long without work?’ ISV — Matthew 20:6
7 They told him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He told them, ‘You go into the vineyard as well.’ ISV — Matthew 20:7
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his manager, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with g20:8 Lit. and up to the first.’ ISV — Matthew 20:8
9 Those who were hired at five o’clock h20:9 Lit. the eleventh hour came, and each received a denarius. ISV — Matthew 20:9
10 “When the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each received a denarius as well. ISV — Matthew 20:10
11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner, ISV — Matthew 20:11
12 ‘These last fellows worked only one hour, but you paid them the same as us, and we’ve been working all day, i20:12 Lit. we’ve endured the burden of the day enduring the scorching heat!’ ISV — Matthew 20:12
13 “But he told one of them, ‘Friend, I’m not treating you unfairly. You did agree with me for a denarius, didn’t you? ISV — Matthew 20:13
14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give this last man as much as I gave you. j20:14 Lit. to this last man as also to you ISV — Matthew 20:14
15 I am allowed to do what I want with my own money, k20:15 Lit. things am I not? Or are you envious l20:15 Lit. Or is your eye evil because I’m generous?’ ISV — Matthew 20:15
16 “In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen.” m20:16 Other mss. lack For many are called, but few are chosen ( ; ) ISV — Matthew 20:16
17 When Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples n20:17 Other mss. lack disciples aside and told them as they were walking along, ISV — Matthew 20:17
18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the high priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. ISV — Matthew 20:18
19 Then they will hand him over to unbelievers o20:19 Lit. to the gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews to be mocked, whipped, and crucified, but on the third day he will be raised.” ( ) ISV — Matthew 20:19
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus p20:20 Lit. him with her sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor. ISV — Matthew 20:20
21 He asked her, “What do you want?” She told him, “Promise q20:21 Lit. Say that in your kingdom these two sons of mine will sit on your right and on your left.” ISV — Matthew 20:21
22 Jesus replied, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink from the cup that I’m going to drink from?” r20:22 Other mss. read to drink from, or be baptized with the baptism with which I’m going to be baptized? They told him, “We can.” ISV — Matthew 20:22
23 He told them, “You will indeed drink from my cup. But it’s not up to me to grant you a seat at my right hand or at my left. These positions have already been prepared for others by my Father.” ISV — Matthew 20:23
24 When the ten heard this, they became furious with the two brothers. ISV — Matthew 20:24
25 But Jesus called the disciples s 20:25 Lit. them and said, “You know that the rulers of the unbelievers t20:25 Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews lord it over them and their superiors act like tyrants over them. ISV — Matthew 20:25
26 That’s not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, ISV — Matthew 20:26
27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. ISV — Matthew 20:27
28 That’s the way it is with the Son of Man. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” ( ; ) ISV — Matthew 20:28
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus. u20:29 Lit. him ISV — Matthew 20:29
30 When two blind men who were sitting by the roadside heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Have mercy on us, Lord, v20:30 Other mss. read Jesus Son of David!” ISV — Matthew 20:30
31 When the crowd told them harshly to be silent, they shouted even louder, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” ISV — Matthew 20:31
32 Jesus stopped and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” ISV — Matthew 20:32
33 They told him, “Lord, we want to be able to see!” w20:33 Lit. Lord, that our eyes be opened ISV — Matthew 20:33
34 Then Jesus, deeply moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and at once they could see again. So they followed him. ISV — Matthew 20:34