20:1 “For the sanctuary of the spiritual realm is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
20:2 And after he settled with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them out to his vineyard.
20:3 Then he went out at the third hour1 and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
20:4 Thus he said to them, ‘Come out to the vineyard and I will pay you whatever is fair.’ And so they departed.
20:5 Again he went out at the sixth and ninth hours2 and did the same thing.
20:6 And he went out at the eleventh hour3 and found others standing idle and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’
20:7 They answered him, ‘Because no one will hire us.’ He also said to them, ‘Come out to the vineyard and you will be paid whatever is fair.’
20:8 So when evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his assistant, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’
20:9 And every man who came out at the eleventh hour received a denarius.
20:10 When the first came, they assumed they should receive more – yet every one of them also received a denarius.
20:11 But when they had received their pay, they grumbled against the master of the house –
20:12 saying, ‘These last have worked only one hour and you have paid them equally to us, while we have carried the load and the heat of the day.’
20:13 Yet he replied to one of them, saying, ‘Friend, I did nothing wrong – did you not agree with me for a denarius?
20:14 Take what is yours and go your way – I will give to the last just as to you.
20:15 Is it not right for me to do what I wish with my money? Are you envious because I am generous?’
20:16 Thus the last will be first and the first will be last.”
20:17 Then Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem, taking the twelve disciples part of the way, and said to them –
20:18 “Look, we are going to Jerusalem, and the Servant of Humanity will be arrested by the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn his body to death –
20:19 and will bring him before the pagans to mock, persecute and crucify – but on the third day he will appear.”
20:20: Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came to him with her sons, worshiping and requesting something from him.
20:21 Thus he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Grant with your authority that my two sons here will sit on your right and on your left.”
20:22 But Jesus replied, saying, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you willing to drink from the vessel that I will drink from, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are willing.”
20:23 Thus he said to them, “You will indeed drink from my vessel and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give – as this is given to those who are prepared by my LORD.”
20:24 And when the ten heard this, they were filled with indignation against the two brothers.
20:25 But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the leaders of the pagans exert their power over them, and their power confers authority over them.
20:26 Yet this will not be with you – rather, whoever intends to be great among you will be your attendant –
20:27 and whoever intends to be first among you will be your servant.”
20:28 Just as the Servant of Humanity came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
20:29 And as they left for Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
20:30 Then suddenly, two blind men were sitting by the road, and when they heard Jesus was passing by, they cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Master, follower of David.”
20:31 And the multitude reproached them because they would not quiet down; but they cried more, saying, “Have mercy on us, Master, follower of David.”
20:32 Thus Jesus stopped and called them over, and said, “What are you wanting from me?”
20:33 They replied to him, “Master, that our eyes may be opened.”
20:34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. Immediately their eyes received sight – and they followed him.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 20:3 - Nine in the morning.
2. Verse 20:5 - noon and three in the afternoon
3. Verse 20:6 - five o’clock in the evening
20:2 And after he settled with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them out to his vineyard.
20:3 Then he went out at the third hour1 and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
20:4 Thus he said to them, ‘Come out to the vineyard and I will pay you whatever is fair.’ And so they departed.
20:5 Again he went out at the sixth and ninth hours2 and did the same thing.
20:6 And he went out at the eleventh hour3 and found others standing idle and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’
20:7 They answered him, ‘Because no one will hire us.’ He also said to them, ‘Come out to the vineyard and you will be paid whatever is fair.’
20:8 So when evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his assistant, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’
20:9 And every man who came out at the eleventh hour received a denarius.
20:10 When the first came, they assumed they should receive more – yet every one of them also received a denarius.
20:11 But when they had received their pay, they grumbled against the master of the house –
20:12 saying, ‘These last have worked only one hour and you have paid them equally to us, while we have carried the load and the heat of the day.’
20:13 Yet he replied to one of them, saying, ‘Friend, I did nothing wrong – did you not agree with me for a denarius?
20:14 Take what is yours and go your way – I will give to the last just as to you.
20:15 Is it not right for me to do what I wish with my money? Are you envious because I am generous?’
20:16 Thus the last will be first and the first will be last.”
20:17 Then Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem, taking the twelve disciples part of the way, and said to them –
20:18 “Look, we are going to Jerusalem, and the Servant of Humanity will be arrested by the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn his body to death –
20:19 and will bring him before the pagans to mock, persecute and crucify – but on the third day he will appear.”
20:20: Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came to him with her sons, worshiping and requesting something from him.
20:21 Thus he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Grant with your authority that my two sons here will sit on your right and on your left.”
20:22 But Jesus replied, saying, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you willing to drink from the vessel that I will drink from, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are willing.”
20:23 Thus he said to them, “You will indeed drink from my vessel and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give – as this is given to those who are prepared by my LORD.”
20:24 And when the ten heard this, they were filled with indignation against the two brothers.
20:25 But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the leaders of the pagans exert their power over them, and their power confers authority over them.
20:26 Yet this will not be with you – rather, whoever intends to be great among you will be your attendant –
20:27 and whoever intends to be first among you will be your servant.”
20:28 Just as the Servant of Humanity came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
20:29 And as they left for Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
20:30 Then suddenly, two blind men were sitting by the road, and when they heard Jesus was passing by, they cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Master, follower of David.”
20:31 And the multitude reproached them because they would not quiet down; but they cried more, saying, “Have mercy on us, Master, follower of David.”
20:32 Thus Jesus stopped and called them over, and said, “What are you wanting from me?”
20:33 They replied to him, “Master, that our eyes may be opened.”
20:34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. Immediately their eyes received sight – and they followed him.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 20:3 - Nine in the morning.
2. Verse 20:5 - noon and three in the afternoon
3. Verse 20:6 - five o’clock in the evening
