0 SAB Matthew 20

Matthew

CHAPTER 20

The parable of the unfair employer
20:1-16

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.

Jesus continues his speech, saying
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

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

He agreed to pay his workers a penny a day.

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

A few hours later he found some people at the marketplace with nothing to do.

4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

He said to them, "Go work in my vineyard; I'll pay you whatever is right."

And the workers went to work.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

At noon he went out again and found more workers, agreeing to pay them whatever is right.

He did the same a few hours later.

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?

An hour or so before sunset, he found more idle people, and said to them, "Why aren't you doing something?"

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.

They said to him, "Because no one has hired us."

He said to them, "Go into the vineyard and you'll be paid whatever is right."

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.

When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, from the last that was hired to the first."

9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

Those who had worked for one hour received a penny.

10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

Those who had worked for twelve hours also received 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.

Those who had worked all day for a penny, complained to the lord of the vineyard, saying, "We worked all day, through the heat of the day, yet you paid us the same as those who worked for only one hour at the end 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.

15Is 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.

He answered them, saying,
I did you no wrong. Didn't you agree to work for a penny?

Take your penny and go away. I'll give a penny to those that I hired last, just like I gave you.

Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want with my money? [1]

Is your eye evil because I am good? [2]

So the first will be last and the last first. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Jesus foretells his death (for the third time)

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

18Behold, 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,

While Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, Jesus said to them,
We are going to Jerusalem, where the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. [3]

19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

He will be delivered to the Gentiles who will mock, scourge, and crucify him. And on the third day he will rise again.
The mother of James and John ask Jesus for a favor
(Special seats in heaven)
20:20-28, Cf. Mk 10:35-45

20Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

Then the mother of the Zebedees children and her sons came to Jesus, and after worshiping him, said to him, "I'd like to ask you something."

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.

Jesus said to her, "What do you want?"

She said, "Let my two sons sit on your right and left sides in your kingdom." [4]

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.

Jesus said,"You don't know what you're asking. Can your sons drink from the cup that I will drink from, and be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized with?"

Her sons said, "We can do that."

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.

Jesus said, "You will indeed drink from my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized with. But the decision as to who will sit at my right and left isn't mine to give. That's up to my Father." [5]

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

When the other ten heard about it, they were angry with the two brothers.

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.

Jesus called them, and said,
You know that the princes of the Gentiles do that type of thing, but it will not be that way with you.

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:

Whoever will be great among you, will serve the others.

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.

The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to die as a ransom for many. [6]
Two blind men
20:29-34, Cf. Mk 10:46-52, Lk 18:35-43

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.

As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed them, and two blind men [7] cried out,
Have mercy on us, O Lord, 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.

The crowd told the blind men to be quiet, but they cried out even louder, saying,
Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David.

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

Jesus stopped and said to them,
What do you want me to do to you?

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

The blind men said,
Heal our eyes so we can see.

34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they could see. And they followed him.
VegetableEMPEROR7 months ago

The parable is intentionally dodgy to make a strange point, but to be fair, the initial group that was gathered were promised a flat penny for their labor, but all other groups were told they'd get what was "right" in the opinion of the employer. That could have been a penny, it could have been something else, we don't know for sure. They all received a penny for their work, so perhaps that was the plan all along.

In any case, Jesus should be sharp enough to spot the problem in the payment arrangements and share a parable about fair, time-based labor wages instead.

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