Matthew 20
Workers in the Vineyard
1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
The landowner is Jesus. The workers are the elect who are chosen for salvation before the foundations of the world were created.
2And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
The workers are those who are servants of Christ. The vineyard is the world.
3When it was about nine o’clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work.
These men were not chosen to work early in the morning.
4He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.’
These men would usually get partial pay.
5So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon, he did the same thing.
The workers waited all day long to find work. They were finally hired later in the afternoon. They would expect to receive partial pay.
6And about five o’clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’
The landowner even hired men at the end of the workday and gave them work. These men would expect even less pay.
8When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.’
In ancient Israel, all workers would receive their pay at the end of the day.
9When those hired about five o’clock came, each received a full day’s pay. 10And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage.
Everyone received a full day’s pay, even if they were hired later in the afternoon.
11When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.’
Those who worked all day complained, because they were expecting more pay.
13And the landowner replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for the standard wage? 14Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you.
The landowner is Jesus. His pay was eternal life. All receive the same pay. It is not how long one works for Christ, but does he perform the task which God creates him to perform?
15Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Jesus did not cheat the workers who worked all day long. He was gracious to the other workers. Everyone receives eternal life by grace, not by how much work they do for the kingdom of God.
Third Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside privately and said to them on the way, 18“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death, 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day, he will be raised.”
Jesus predicted a third time that He was going to be killed and resurrected from the dead.
A Request for James and John
20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor.
James and John were disciples of Jesus. Their mother loved her boys. She asked Jesus for a favor.
21He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
Momma wanted her to boys to sit on the right and left of Jesus during the Millennial Kingdom.
22Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”
Jesus was going to drink the martyr’s cup. He asked James and John if they could drink from this same cup. Both boys answered “yes.”
23He told them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
Jesus predicted that they would both be martyred, but they could not sit on these thrones during the Millennial Kingdom.
24Now when the other ten heard this, they were angry with the two brothers.
The other ten disciples were angry at the two brothers for attempting to gain a higher position than them in the Millennial Kingdom.’
25But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.
The Gentiles value political power over a relationship with the one true God.
26It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave – 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.”
Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. The disciples were to follow the example of Jesus. This was strange talk for the Roman Empire culture.
Two Blind Men Healed
29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed them.
Crowds followed Jesus everywhere.
30Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!”
The two blind men called Jesus by His messianic title.
31The crowd scolded them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”
The crowd wanted to hear Jesus teach and see Him perform miracles.
32Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Jesus opened the eyes of the blind men, showing that He was the Messiah.