{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/wnt/matthew/20","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T00:30:30.666Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WNT","book":"Matthew","bookSlug":"matthew","chapter":20,"testament":"NEW"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":19,"nextChapter":21,"totalChapters":28,"totalVerses":34},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"|For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like  an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"and having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the market-place."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"To these also he said, |'You also, go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'"},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"|So they went. Again about twelve, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"And going out about five o'clock he found others loitering, and he asked them, |'Why  have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?'"},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"|'Because  no one has hired us,' they replied. |'You also, go into the vineyard,' he said."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"|When evening came, the master said to his steward, |'Call the men and pay them their wages. Begin with the last set and finish with the first.'"},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"|When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received a shilling apiece;"},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"and when the first came, they expected to get more, but they also each got  the shilling."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"So when they had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying,"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"|'These who came last  have done  only one hour's work, and  you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.'"},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"|'My friend,' he answered to one of them, 'I am doing you no injustice.  Did you not agree with me for a shilling?"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give you."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am  generous?'"},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"|So the last shall be first, and the first last.|"},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"|We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and Scribes. They will condemn Him to death,"},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He  will be raised to life.|"},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Then the mother of the sons of Zabdi came to Him with her sons, and knelt before Him to make a request of Him."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"|What is it you desire?| He asked. |Command,| she replied, |that these my two sons may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in  your Kingdom.|"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"|None of you know what you are asking for,| said Jesus; |can you drink  out of the cup  from which I am about to drink?| |We can,| they replied."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"|You shall drink out of my cup,| He said, |but a seat at my right hand or at my left it is not for me to allot, but it belongs to those for whom it has been  prepared by my Father.|"},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"The  other ten heard of this, and their indignation was aroused  against the two brothers."},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"But Jesus called them to Him, and said, |You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them."},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"Not so  shall it be among you; but whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant,"},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant;"},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as the  redemption-price  for many.|"},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"As they were leaving Jericho, an immense crowd following Him,"},{"verseNumber":30,"text":"two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried aloud, |Sir, Son of David, pity us.|"},{"verseNumber":31,"text":"The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder. |O Sir, Son of David, pity us,| they said."},{"verseNumber":32,"text":"So Jesus stood still and called to them. |What shall I do for you?| He asked."},{"verseNumber":33,"text":"|Sir, let our eyes be opened,| they replied."},{"verseNumber":34,"text":"Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him."}],"citation":{"inline":"Matthew 20 (WNT)","markdown":"[Matthew 20](https://primebible.com/wnt/matthew/20)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WNT. https://primebible.com/wnt/matthew/20 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}