Matthew 20

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

2After agreeing with the workers for one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4And he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’

5So they went away. Going out again about the sixth and ninth hour, he did likewise.

6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing there, and he says to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’

7They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He says to them, “You also go into the vineyard.”

8When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’

9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, they received a denarius each.

10When the first ones came, they thought they would receive more, but they too received a denarius each.

11And after receiving it, they began grumbling against the master of the house,

12saying, ‘These last worked one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’

13But answering, he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?’

14Take what is yours and go. But I want to give to this last man the same as to you.

15Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is mine? Or is your eye evil because I am good?

16So the last will be first, and the first last.

17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way he said to them,

18Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,

19and they will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on the third day he will be raised.

20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, bowing down and asking something from him.

21And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

22But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

23He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24And when the ten heard it, they became indignant with the two brothers.

25But Jesus, calling them to himself, said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.”

26It shall not be so among you. But whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant,

27And whoever wants to be first among you must be your servant.

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

29And as they were going out from Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

30And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.”

31But the crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent. Yet they cried out all the more, saying, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.”

32And Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

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