Matthew 20

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man--the master of the house--who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

2 And [after] coming to an agreement with the workers for a denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 And to those [people] he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.'

5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth and ninth hour he did the same [thing].

6 And about the eleventh [hour] he went out [and] found others standing [there] and said to them, 'Why are you standing here the whole day unemployed?'

7 They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go also into the vineyard.'

8 And [when] evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last up to the first.'

9 And [when] the ones [hired] about the eleventh hour came, they received a denarius apiece.

10 And [when] the first came, they thought that they would receive more, and they also received a denarius apiece.

11 And [when they] received [it], they began to complain against the master of the house,

12 saying, 'These last [people] worked one hour and you made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the burning heat!'

13 But he answered one of them [and] said, 'Friend, I am not doing you wrong. Did you not come to an agreement with me for a denarius?

14 Take [what is] yours and go! But I want to give to this last [person] [the same] as [I gave] to you also.

15 Is it not permitted for me to do whatever I want with [what is] mine? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?'

16 Thus the last will be first and the first last."

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time

17 And [as] Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples by themselves and said to them on the way,

18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,

19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock [him] and flog [him] and crucify [him], and on the third day he will be raised."

A Request by the Mother of James and John

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, [and] kneeling down [she] asked something from him.

21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom."

22 But Jesus answered [and] said, "You do not know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able."

23 He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but [is] for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

24 And [when] the ten heard [this], they were indignant concerning the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them to himself [and] said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions exercise authority over them.

26 It will not be like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27 and whoever wants to be most prominent among you must be your slave--

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life [as] a ransom for many."

Two Blind Men Healed at Jericho

29 And [as] they were going out of Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30 And behold, [there were] two blind men sitting beside the road. [When they] heard that Jesus was passing by, they called out, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

31 And the crowd rebuked them so that they would be quiet. But they called out all the more, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

32 And Jesus stopped, called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

33 They said to him, "Lord, that our eyes be opened!"

34 And having compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they received [their] sight and followed him.

Matthew 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

The parable of the labourers in the vineyard. (1-16) Jesus again foretells his sufferings. (17-19) The ambition of James and John. (20-28) Jesus gives sight to two blind men near Jericho. (29-34)

Verses 1-16 The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God is debtor to no man. 2. That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at a great deal of knowledge, grace, and usefulness. 3. That the recompense of reward will be given to the saints, but not according to the time of their conversion. It describes the state of the visible church, and explains the declaration that the last shall be first, and the first last, in its various references. Till we are hired into the service of God, we are standing all the day idle: a sinful state, though a state of drudgery to Satan, may be called a state of idleness. The market-place is the world, and from that we are called by the gospel. Come, come from this market-place. Work for God will not admit of trifling. A man may go idle to hell, but he that will go to heaven, must be diligent. The Roman penny was sevenpence halfpenny in our money, wages then enough for the day's support. This does not prove that the reward of our obedience to God is of works, or of debt; when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants; but it signifies that there is a reward set before us, yet let none, upon this presumption, put off repentance till they are old. Some were sent into the vineyard at the eleventh hour; but nobody had hired them before. The Gentiles came in at the eleventh hour; the gospel had not been before preached to them. Those that have had gospel offers made them at the third or sixth hour, and have refused them, will not have to say at the eleventh hour, as these had, No man has hired us. Therefore, not to discourage any, but to awaken all, be it remembered, that now is the accepted time. The riches of Divine grace are loudly murmured at, among proud Pharisees and nominal Christians. There is great proneness in us to think that we have too little, and others too much of the tokens of God's favour; and that we do too much, and others too little in the work of God. But if God gives grace to others, it is kindness to them, and no injustice to us. Carnal worldlings agree with God for their penny in this world; and choose their portion in this life. Obedient believers agree with God for their penny in the other world, and must remember they have so agreed. Didst not thou agree to take up with heaven as thy portion, thy all; wilt thou seek for happiness in the creature? God punishes none more than they deserve, and recompenses every service done for him; he therefore does no wrong to any, by showing extraordinary grace to some. See here the nature of envy. It is an evil eye, which is displeased at the good of others, and desires their hurt. It is a grief to ourselves, displeasing to God, and hurtful to our neighbours: it is a sin that has neither pleasure, profit, nor honour. Let us forego every proud claim, and seek for salvation as a free gift. Let us never envy or grudge, but rejoice and praise God for his mercy to others as well as to ourselves.

Verses 17-19 Christ is more particular here in foretelling his sufferings than before. And here, as before, he adds the mention of his resurrection and his glory, to that of his death and sufferings, to encourage his disciples, and comfort them. A believing view of our once crucified and now glorified Redeemer, is good to humble a proud, self-justifying disposition. When we consider the need of the humiliation and sufferings of the Son of God, in order to the salvation of perishing sinners, surely we must be aware of the freeness and richness of Divine grace in our salvation.

Verses 20-28 The sons of Zebedee abused what Christ said to comfort the disciples. Some cannot have comforts but they turn them to a wrong purpose. Pride is a sin that most easily besets us; it is sinful ambition to outdo others in pomp and grandeur. To put down the vanity and ambition of their request, Christ leads them to the thoughts of their sufferings. It is a bitter cup that is to be drunk of; a cup of trembling, but not the cup of the wicked. It is but a cup, it is but a draught, bitter perhaps, but soon emptied; it is a cup in the hand of a Father, Joh. 18:11 . Baptism is an ordinance by which we are joined to the Lord in covenant and communion; and so is suffering for Christ, ( Ezekiel 20:37 , Isaiah 48:10 ) . Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace; and so is suffering for Christ, for unto us it is given, ( Philippians 1:29 ) . But they knew not what Christ's cup was, nor what his baptism. Those are commonly most confident, who are least acquainted with the cross. Nothing makes more mischief among brethren, than desire of greatness. And we never find Christ's disciples quarrelling, but something of this was at the bottom of it. That man who labours most diligently, and suffers most patiently, seeking to do good to his brethren, and to promote the salvation of souls, most resembles Christ, and will be most honoured by him to all eternity. Our Lord speaks of his death in the terms applied to the sacrifices of old. It is a sacrifice for the sins of men, and is that true and substantial sacrifice, which those of the law faintly and imperfectly represented. It was a ransom for many, enough for all, working upon many; and, if for many, then the poor trembling soul may say, Why not for me?

Verses 29-34 It is good for those under the same trial, or infirmity of body or mind, to join in prayer to God for relief, that they may quicken and encourage one another. There is mercy enough in Christ for all that ask. They were earnest in prayer. They cried out as men in earnest. Cold desires beg denials. They were humble in prayer, casting themselves upon, and referring themselves cheerfully to, the Mediator's mercy. They showed faith in prayer, by the title they gave to Christ. Surely it was by the Holy Ghost that they called Jesus, Lord. They persevered in prayer. When they were in pursuit of such mercy, it was no time for timidity or hesitation: they cried earnestly. Christ encouraged them. The wants and burdens of the body we are soon sensible of, and can readily relate. Oh that we did as feelingly complain of our spiritual maladies, especially our spiritual blindness! Many are spiritually blind, yet say they see. Jesus cured these blind men; and when they had received sight, they followed him. None follow Christ blindly. He first by his grace opens men's eyes, and so draws their hearts after him. These miracles are our call to Jesus; may we hear it, and make it our daily prayer to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("coming to an agreement") which is understood as temporal
• [b]. Some manuscripts have "And going out"
• [c]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("went out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [d]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("came")
• [e]. Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [f]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
• [g]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("received") which is understood as temporal
• [h]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [i]. The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to complain")
• [j]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [k]. The words "[I gave]" are an implied repetition from the verb earlier in the verse
• [l]. Some manuscripts have "Or [is it] not"
• [m]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was going up") which is understood as temporal
• [n]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [o]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [p]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [q]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the participle ("kneeling down") has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
• [r]. *Here the participle ("asked") is translated as a finite verb because of English style
• [s]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [t]. Some manuscripts have "this is not mine"
• [u]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [v]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [w]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("called ... to himself") has been translated as a finite verb
• [x]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were going out")
• [y]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [z]. Some manuscripts have "Have mercy on us, Lord"
• [aa]. Some manuscripts have "Have mercy on us, Lord"
• [ab]. *Here the participle ("stopped") is translated as a finite verb because of English style