Matthew 20
The Last Paid First, and the Same Wage for All
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The Kingdom of the Heavens Is Like a Householder
20:1For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
20:2After agreeing with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
20:3He went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
20:4He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.’
20:5They went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hours and did the same.
20:6About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle the whole day?’
20:7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
20:8When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the workers and pay them the wage, beginning with the last up to the first.’
20:9Those hired about the eleventh hour came and received a denarius each.
20:10When the first came, they supposed they would receive more, but they too received a denarius each.
20:11On receiving it, they grumbled against the householder,
20:12saying, ‘These last worked one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the day’s burden and scorching heat.’
20:13He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
20:14Take what is yours and go. I wish to give to this last one as also to you.
20:15Am I not permitted to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
20:16So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Going Up to Jerusalem
20:17As Jesus went up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples privately, and on the road He said to them,
20:18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death
20:19and hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock, flog, and crucify Him; and on the third day He will be raised.”
The Request of the Mother of Zebedee’s Sons
20:20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, bowing before Him and asking something from Him.
20:21He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at Your right and one at Your left, in Your kingdom.”
20:22Jesus answered, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
20:23He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, but to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give, except to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
20:24When the ten heard, they became indignant about the two brothers.
It Shall Not Be So Among You
20:25Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
20:26It shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant,
20:27and whoever wishes to be first among you will be your slave,
20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom in place of many.”
Two Blind Men Near Jericho
20:29As they went out from Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.
20:30And behold, two blind men sitting beside the road heard that Jesus was passing by and cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”
20:31The crowd rebuked them to make them silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”
20:32Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you wish Me to do for you?”
20:33They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
20:34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received sight and followed Him.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.