Search Tools

Matthew 20:1

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.

2

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

3

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

4

And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever ° 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 about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

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.

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.

9

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

10

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

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.

15

Is 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.

17

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

18

Behold, 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,

19

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

20

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

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.

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.

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.

24

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

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

32

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

33

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

34

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

Matthew 20:2

20:2 agreed. Note that this first group of workers wanted a definite contract with the householder before they would work. The later groups were willing to work simply by faith in the employer’s word that “whatsoever is right I will give you” (Matthew 20:4), and He rewarded their faith abundantly. Even those hired at the eleventh hour received the same wages, for they would have been willing to work all day (Matthew 20:7) if they had known. Thus, rewards for Christian service are based more on motive and opportunity than on quantity. See also I Corinthians 3:13-15.

Matthew 20:10

20:10 penny. This was the Roman “denarius,” equal in value to about one day’s wages for the average laborer at that time.

Matthew 20:19

20:19 crucify him. The Lord Jesus told His disciples at least fourteen times that He would be put to death, yet when the event came, they were still unprepared.

Matthew 20:19

20:19 the third day. There are fourteen references to Christ’s resurrection on “the third day” in the New Testament. Thus, in terms of days of the week, it seems clear that He was slain on the sixth day of the week, the same day on which man had been created. He then rested in the tomb on the seventh day, the same day on which He rested after completing His work of creating and making all things, and rose again victoriously, never to die again, on the first day of the new week.

Matthew 20:28

20:28 ransom. Christ several times had informed the disciples about His coming death and resurrection. Here He also indicates that His death will be in substitution for them, dying for their sins (Matthew 10:28).

Matthew 20:30

20:30 two blind men. Jesus healed one blind man as He was entering Jericho (Luke 18:35-43), then He healed two as He later was leaving the city, as noted in this verse. One of these blind men was named Bartimaeus, and it was evidently he who was spokesman for the two (Mark 10:46-52).

The Institute for Creation Research

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

ICR Menu