Matthew 20

1 The kingdom of heavens is like to an husbandman, that went out first by the morrow [that went out early, or by the morrow], to hire workmen into his vineyard.

2 And when the covenant was made with the workmen, of a penny for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market.

4 And he said to them, Go ye also into mine vineyard [Go ye also into my vinery], and that that shall be rightful, I shall give to you. And they went forth.

5 Again he went out about the sixth hour, and the ninth, and did in like manner.

6 But about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and said to them, What stand ye idle here all day [What stand ye here idle all day]?

7 They say to him, For no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into my vineyard.

8 And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his procurator, Call the workmen, and yield to them their hire, and begin thou at the last till to the first [beginning at the last till to the first].

9 And so when they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, also they took every each of them a penny. [+Therefore when they came, that had come about the eleventh hour, also they took even-pence, that is, every man a penny.]

10 But the first came, and deemed, that they should take more, but they took each one by themselves a penny; [+Truly and the first coming deemed, that they were worthy to take more, truly and they took each one by himself a penny/but also they took even-pence.]

11 and in the taking they grumbled against the husbandman, [And they taking grutched against the husbandman,]

12 and said [saying], These last wrought one hour, and thou hast made them even to us, that have borne the charge of the day, and [the] heat?

13 And he answered to one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee none wrong [Friend, I do thee no wrong]; whether thou hast not accorded with me for a penny?

14 Take thou that that is thine, and go; for I will give to this last man, as to thee. [+Take that that is thine, and go; forsooth I will give also to this the last, as and to thee.]

15 Whether it is not leaveful to me to do that that I will? Whether thine eye is wicked, for I am good?

16 So the last shall be the first, and the first the last; for many be called, but few be chosen [for many be called, but few chosen].

17 And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and took his twelve disciples in private, and said to them, [And Jesus, ascending up to Jerusalem, took his twelve disciples in private, and said to them,]

18 Lo! we go up to Jerusalem, and man's Son shall be betaken to princes of priests, and to scribes; and they shall condemn him to death.

19 And they shall betake him to heathen men, for to be scorned, and scourged, and crucified; and the third day he shall rise again to life. [And they shall betake him to heathen men, to be scorned, and scourged, and crucified; and the third day he shall rise again.]

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, honouring, and asking something of him. [Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came nigh to him with her sons, worshipping, and asking something of him.]

21 And he said to her, What wilt thou? She saith to him, Say that these two my sons sit [Say that these my two sons sit], one at thy right half, and one at thy left half, in thy kingdom.

22 [Forsooth] Jesus answered, and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Be ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of [Be ye able to drink the cup that I am to drink]? They say to him, We be able.

23 He saith to them, Ye shall drink my cup; but to sit at my right half or [at my] left half, is not mine to give to you; but to whom it is made ready of my Father.

24 And the ten hearing, had indignation of the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them to him, and said, Ye know, that [the] princes of heathen men be lords of them, and they that be [the] greater, use power on them [and they that be more, haunt power on them].

26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever will be made greater among you [but whoever will be made more among you], be he your minister;

27 and whoever among you will be the first [and whoever among you will be first], he shall be your servant.

28 As man's Son came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life redemption for many.

29 And when they went out of Jericho, much people followed him. [And they going out of Jericho, many companies followed him.]

30 And lo! two blind men sat beside the way, and heard that Jesus passed; and they cried, and said, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us. [And lo! two blind men sitting beside the way, heard that Jesus passed; and they cried, saying, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us.]

31 And the people blamed them, that they should be still; and they cried the more, and said, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us. [Forsooth the company blamed them, that they should be still; and they cried more, saying, Lord, the son of David, have mercy on us.]

32 And Jesus stood, and called them, and said, What will ye, that I do to you?

33 They say to him, Lord, that our eyes be opened.

34 And Jesus had mercy on them, and touched their eyes; and at once [and anon] they saw, 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.