Matthew

The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 20, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 20 New English Translation

Workers in the Vineyard

   1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When it was about nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. 4 He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.' 5 So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o'clock that afternoon, he did the same thing. 6 And about five o'clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day without work?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go and work in the vineyard too.' 8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each received a full day's pay. 10 And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage. 11 When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.' 13 And the landowner replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me to work for the standard wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. 15 Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last."

Third Prediction of Jesus' Death and Resurrection

   17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside privately and said to them on the way, 18 "Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death, 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day, he will be raised."

A Request for James and John

   20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor. 21 He said to her, "What do you want?" She replied, "Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He told them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
   24 Now when the other ten heard this, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles LORD it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first 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

   29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed them. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Have mercy on us, LORD, Son of David!" 31 The crowd scolded them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, "LORD, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 They said to him, "LORD, let our eyes be opened." 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

King James Version

   1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
   2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny 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 unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
   5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
   6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
   7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
   8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
   9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
   10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
   11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
   12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
   13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
   14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
   15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
   16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
   17 ¶ And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
   18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
   19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
   20 ¶ Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
   21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
   22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
   23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
   24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
   25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
   26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
   27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
   28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
   29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
   30 ¶ And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
   31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
   32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
   33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
   34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.