THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

 

Matthew Chapter 20

1 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

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

4 And said to them; Go also into my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right. And they went their way.

5 He again went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did the same thing.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why are you standing here idle all day?

7 They answered, Because no one has hired us. He said to them, Go also into my vineyard; and you will receive whatever is right.

8 So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their pay, beginning from the last to the first.

9 And when those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, every one received a denarius.

10 So when those hired first came, they assumed that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.

11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,

12 Saying, Those who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I am not being unfair to you: didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take what is yours, and go: I want to pay those hired last, the same as I paid you.

15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want with my own money? Is your eye evil, because I am good?

16 So the last will be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.

17 ¶ And while going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside on the road, and said to them,

18 Look, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death,

19 And will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, and flogged, and crucified: and on the third day he will rise again.

20 ¶ Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came to him with her sons, and bowing before him, asked a favor of him.

21 And he asked her, What is it you want? She said to him, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left, in your kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered saying, You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? They answered, We are able.

23 And he said to them, You will indeed drink from my cup, and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it will be given to those for whom it is prepared by my Father.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them to him, and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.

26 But it will not be that way among you: but whoever wants to be great among you, must be your servant;

27 And whoever wants to be first, will serve you:

28 Even as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29 ¶ And as they left Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30 And, upon hearing that Jesus passed by, two blind men sitting by the road side, cried out, saying, O Lord, Son of David, Have mercy on us.

31 And the crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David.

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

33 They said to him, Lord, open our eyes.

34 And Jesus filled with compassion, touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.