Matthew 20

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