Matthew 20:1-16

New Matthew Bible

Christ teaches by a similitude that God is debtor to no man, and how he is always calling people to his work. He teaches his disciples to be lowly, and gives two blind men their sight.

20 For the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. ² And he agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day, and sent them into his vineyard. ³ And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place, ⁴ and said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever 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 he went out about the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all the day? ⁷ They said to him, Because no one has hired us. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, that you will receive.

⁸ When evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the labourers and give them their wages, beginning at the last till you come to the first.

⁹ And those who were hired about the eleventh hour came and received every man a denarius. ¹⁰ Then came the first, supposing that they would receive more, but they likewise received every man a denarius. ¹¹ And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, ¹² saying, These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

¹³ He answered to one of them, saying, Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take that which is your due, and go your way. I want to give to the last one as much as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do as I please with what belongs to me? Is your eye evil because I am good?

¹⁶ In like manner the last may be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.