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A Story About Workers(A)

20 [L For] The kingdom of heaven is like a ·person who owned some land [landowner; householder]. One morning, he went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard. The man agreed to pay the workers ·one coin [L a denarius; C typical pay for a day laborer] for working that day. Then he sent them into the vineyard to work. About ·nine o’clock [L the third hour] the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there, doing nothing. So he said to them, ‘If you go and work in my vineyard, I will pay you ·what your work is worth [L whatever is right].’ So they went to work in the vineyard. The man went out again about ·twelve o’clock and three o’clock [L the sixth and ninth hour] and did the same thing. About ·five o’clock [L the eleventh hour] the man went to the marketplace again and saw others standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?’ They answered, ‘No one ·gave us a job [hired us].’ The man said to them, ‘Then you can go and work in my vineyard.’

“·At the end of the day [When evening came], the owner of the vineyard said to the ·boss of all the workers [foreman; supervisor; steward], ‘Call the workers and pay them [L their wage]. Start with the last people I hired and end with those I hired first.’

“When the workers who were hired at ·five o’clock [L the eleventh hour] came to get their pay, each received ·one coin [L a denarius; v. 2]. 10 When the workers who were hired first came to get their pay, they ·thought [expected; assumed] they would be paid more than the others. But each one of them also received ·one coin [L a denarius]. 11 When they got their coin, they ·complained to [grumbled at; protested to] the ·man who owned the land [landowner; householder]. 12 They said, ‘Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you ·paid them the same as you paid [L made them equal to] us who ·worked hard all day in the hot sun [L bore the burden and heat of the day].’ 13 But the man who owned the vineyard said to one of those workers, ‘Friend, I am ·being fair [L not being unfair] to you. ·You agreed [Did you not agree…?] to work for ·one coin [L a denarius; v. 2]. 14 So take ·your pay [L what is yours] and go. I ·want [choose] to give the man who was hired last the same pay that I gave you. 15 ·I can [L Don’t I have the right to…?] do what I want with ·my own money [L what is mine]. Are you jealous because I am ·good to those people [generous; L good]?’

16 “So those who are last now will someday be first, and those who are first now will someday be last.”

Jesus Talks About His Own Death(B)

17 While Jesus was going [L up] to Jerusalem [C travelers go “up” to Jerusalem because it is built on a hill and because it is God’s holy city], he took his twelve followers aside privately and [as they walked; L on the way] said to them, 18 “Look, we are going [L up] to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be ·turned over [betrayed; delivered over; see 17:22] to the ·leading [T chief] priests and the ·teachers of the law [scribes], and they will ·say that he must die [condemn him to death]. 19 They will turn the Son of Man over to the Gentiles [C the Roman authorities] to ·laugh at [mock] him and ·beat him with whips [scourge/flog him] and crucify him. But on the third day, he will be raised to life again.”

A Mother Asks Jesus a Favor(C)

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee [C James and John] came to Jesus with her sons. She ·bowed [knelt] before him and asked ·him to do something for her [a favor of him].

21 Jesus asked, “What do you want?”

She said, “·Promise [Grant; Declare; L Say] that one of my sons will sit at your right ·side [hand] and the other will sit at your left side in your kingdom [C the positions of highest authority beside the king].”

22 But Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. ·Can you [Are you able to] drink the cup [C symbolizing suffering, and perhaps God’s judgment experienced by Jesus on the cross; Jer. 25:15–29] that I am about to drink?”

The sons answered, “Yes, we ·can [are able].”

23 Jesus said to them, “You will drink from my cup. But ·I cannot choose [it is not for me to grant/say] who will sit at my right or my left; those places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.”

24 When the other ten ·followers [disciples] heard this, they were ·angry [indignant] with the two brothers.

25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the ·Gentiles [nations] love to ·show their power [lord it] over the people. And their ·important leaders [high officials; L great ones] love to ·use [exert] their authority [L over them]. 26 But it ·should not be [must not be; is not to be] that way among you. [Instead, L But] Whoever wants to become great among you must ·serve the rest of you like a servant [L be your servant]. 27 Whoever wants to become first among you must ·serve all of you like a slave [L be slave of all]. 28 In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people [Is. 53:12; John 11:49–50].”

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men(D)

29 When ·Jesus and his followers [L they] were leaving Jericho, a ·great many people [large crowd] followed him. 30 [L And look/T behold] Two blind men sitting by the road heard that Jesus was going by, so they shouted, “Lord, Son of David [C a title for the Messiah, a descendant of King David; 2 Sam. 7:11–16], ·have mercy [take pity] on us!”

31 The people ·warned [rebuked; scolded] the blind men to be quiet, but they shouted even more, “Lord, Son of David, ·have mercy [take pity] on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and said to the blind men, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 They answered, “Lord, ·we want to see [L let our eyes be opened].”

34 Jesus felt ·sorry [compassion] for the blind men and touched their eyes, and at once they could see. Then they followed Jesus.

20  For gar the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios the owner of an estate oikodespotēs who hostis went exerchomai out early in the morning hama to hire misthoō men ergatēs to work in eis · ho his autos vineyard ampelōn. After having agreed symphōneō · de with meta the ho workers ergatēs for ek a denarius dēnarion per ho day hēmera, he sent apostellō them autos into eis · ho his autos vineyard ampelōn. And kai going exerchomai out about peri the third tritos hour hōra, he saw others allos standing histēmi in en the ho marketplace agora with nothing argos to do . And kai to them ekeinos he said legō, “ You hymeis go hypagō into eis the ho vineyard ampelōn as kai well , and kai whatever hos ean is eimi fair dikaios I will pay didōmi you hymeis.’ So de they ho went aperchomai off . When he went out exerchomai again palin about peri the sixth hektos hour and kai the ninth enatos hour hōra, he did poieō the same hōsautōs thing . And de about peri the ho eleventh hendekatos hour, when he had gone exerchomai out and found heuriskō others allos standing histēmi around , · kai he said legō to them autos, ‘ Why tis have you been standing histēmi here hōde idle argos all holos · ho day hēmera long?’ They said legō to him autos, ‘ Because hoti no oudeis one has hired misthoō us hēmeis.’ He said legō to them autos, ‘ You hymeis go hypagō into eis the ho vineyard ampelōn too kai.’ And de when evening opsia came ginomai, the ho owner kyrios of ho the vineyard ampelōn said legō to ho his autos foreman epitropē, ‘ Call kaleō the ho workers ergatēs and kai pay apodidōmi them autos their ho wages misthos, beginning archō with apo the ho last eschatos and going heōs back to the ho first prōtos.’ · kai Those ho hired about peri the ho eleventh hendekatos hour hōra came erchomai and each ana received lambanō a denarius dēnarion. 10 · kai When those ho who were hired first prōtos came erchomai, they thought nomizō they would receive lambanō more polys; but kai they autos also kai each ana received lambanō · ho a denarius dēnarion. 11 And de when they received lambanō it, they began to grumble gongyzō against kata the ho owner oikodespotēs of the estate , 12 saying legō, ‘ These houtos · ho last eschatos worked poieō but one heis hour hōra, and kai you have made poieō them autos equal isos to us hēmeis who ho have borne bastazō the ho burden baros of the ho day hēmera and kai the ho scorching kausōn heat .’ 13 But de he ho answered apokrinomai one heis of them autos, saying legō, ‘ Friend hetairos, I am not ou being unfair adikeō to you sy. Did you symphōneō not ouchi agree with symphōneō me egō to work for a denarius dēnarion? 14 Take airō what ho is yours sos and kai be gone hypagō. I choose thelō · de to give didōmi to this houtos · ho last eschatos man the same kai as hōs I give to you sy. 15 Am I egō not ou allowed to do poieō what hos I choose thelō with en what ho belongs to me emos? Or ē · ho are eimi you sy envious ponēros because hoti I egō am eimi generous agathos?’ 16 So houtōs the ho last eschatos will be eimi first prōtos, and kai the ho first prōtos will be last eschatos.”

17 · kai As Jesus Iēsous was going anabainō up · ho to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma, he took paralambanō the ho twelve dōdeka disciples aside kata idios and kai said legō to them autos on en the ho way hodos, 18  We are going anabainō up to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma, and kai the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos will be handed paradidōmi over to the ho ruling archiereus priests and kai the scribes grammateus. · kai They will condemn katakrinō him autos to death thanatos, 19 · kai hand paradidōmi him autos over to the ho Gentiles ethnos to eis be · ho mocked empaizō and kai flogged mastigoō and kai crucified stauroō, and kai on the ho third tritos day hēmera he will be raised egeirō.”

20 Then tote the ho mother mētēr of the ho sons hyios of Zebedee Zebedaios came proserchomai to Jesus autos with meta · ho her autos sons hyios, and kneeling proskyneō down · kai she asked aiteō something tis from apo him autos. 21 And de he ho said legō to her autos, “ What tis do you wish thelō?” She said legō to him autos, “ Grant legō that hina these houtos · ho two dyo sons hyios of mine egō may sit kathizō, one heis at ek your sy right dexios hand and kai one heis at ek your sy left euōnymos, in en · ho your sy kingdom basileia.” 22 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai, · de · ho saying legō, “ You do not ou realize oida what tis you are asking aiteō. Are you able dynamai to drink pinō the ho cup potērion that hos I egō am about mellō to drink pinō?” They said legō to him autos, “ We are able dynamai.” 23 He said legō to them autos, · ho My egō cup potērion you will drink pinō, · ho but de to sit kathizō at ek my egō right dexios hand and kai at ek my left euōnymos is eimi not ou mine emos to grant didōmi, but alla it is for those hos for whom it has been prepared hetoimazō by hypo · ho my egō Father patēr.” 24 · kai When the ho ten deka heard akouō this, they were indignant aganakteō with peri the ho two dyo brothers adelphos. 25 · ho But de Jesus Iēsous called proskaleō them autos to him and said legō, “ You know oida that hoti the ho rulers archōn of the ho nations ethnos lord katakyrieuō it over them autos, and kai their ho leaders megas exercise katexousiazō authority over them autos. 26 It will eimi not ou be eimi so houtōs among en you hymeis. But alla whoever hos ean would thelō be ginomai great megas among en you hymeis must be eimi your hymeis servant diakonos, 27 and kai whoever hos an would thelō be eimi first prōtos among en you hymeis must be eimi your hymeis servant; 28 just hōsper as the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos came erchomai not ou to be served diakoneō but alla to serve diakoneō, and kai to give didōmi · ho his autos life psychē a ransom lytron for anti many polys.”

29 · kai As they autos were going ekporeuomai out of apo Jericho Ierichō, a large polys crowd ochlos followed akoloutheō him autos. 30 · kai Two dyo blind typhlos men were sitting kathēmai beside para the ho road hodos, and when they heard akouō that hoti Jesus Iēsous was passing paragō by they cried krazō out , “ Lord kyrios, Son hyios of David Dauid, have mercy eleeō on us hēmeis!” 31 The ho · de crowd ochlos rebuked epitimaō them autos and told them to hina be quiet siōpaō, but de they ho cried out krazō all the louder megas, “ Lord kyrios, Son hyios of David Dauid, have mercy eleeō on us hēmeis!” 32 · kai Jesus Iēsous stopped histēmi · ho and called phōneō them autos, · kai saying legō, “ What tis do you want thelō me to do poieō for you hymeis?” 33 They said legō to him autos, “ Lord kyrios, let hina our hēmeis eyes ophthalmos be opened anoigō.” · ho 34 Moved splanchnizomai with compassion , · de · ho Jesus Iēsous touched haptō · ho their autos eyes omma. · kai Immediately eutheōs they received anablepō their sight and kai followed akoloutheō him autos.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like(A) a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.(B) He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came,(C) the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble(D) against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat(E) of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.(F) Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’(G)

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”(H)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(I)

17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem,(J) and the Son of Man(K) will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.(L) They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged(M) and crucified.(N) On the third day(O) he will be raised to life!”(P)

A Mother’s Request(Q)

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons(R) came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down,(S) asked a favor of him.

21 “What is it you want?” he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”(T)

22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup(U) I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup,(V) but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant(W) with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,(X) 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man(Y) did not come to be served, but to serve,(Z) and to give his life as a ransom(AA) for many.”

Two Blind Men Receive Sight(AB)

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David,(AC) have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:2 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer.