The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. Mt 13:24; 21:28,33
2After agreeing with the workers on one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3When he went out about nine in the morning, Lit about the third hour he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
4To those men he said, ‘You also go to my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So off they went.
5About noon and at three, Lit about the sixth hour and the ninth hour he went out again and did the same thing.
6Then about five Lit about the eleventh hour he went and found others standing around, Other mss add doing nothing and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing? ’
7“ ‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.
“ ‘You also go to my vineyard,’ he told them. Other mss add ‘and you’ll get whatever is right.’
8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, Lv 19:13; Dt 24:15 starting with the last and ending with the first.’ Lit starting from the last until the first
9“When those who were hired about five Lit about the eleventh hour came, they each received one denarius.
10So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each.
11When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner:
12‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat! ’ Jnh 4:8; Lk 12:55; Jms 1:11
13“He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? Mt 22:12; 26:50
14Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.
15Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my business? Lit with what is mine Are you jealous Lit Is your eye evil ; an idiom for jealousy or stinginess because I’m generous? ’ Lit good Dt 15:9; Pr 23:6; Mt 6:23; Mk 7:22
16“So the last will be first, and the first last.” Other mss add For many are called, but few are chosen.” Mt 19:30; Mk 10:31; Lk 13:30
The Third Prediction of His Death
17While going up to Jerusalem, Mk 10:32-34; Lk 18:31-33 Jesus took the 12 disciples aside privately and said to them on the way:
18“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Mt 16:21; 26:66; Jn 19:7
19Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles Mt 27:2; Ac 2:23; 3:13; 4:27; 21:11 to be mocked, flogged, Or scourged and crucified, and He will be resurrected Other mss read will rise again on the third day.”
Suffering and Service
20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached Him with her sons. Mk 10:35-45; Lk 22:24-27 She knelt down to ask Him for something. Mt 4:21; 8:2
21“What do you want? ” He asked her.
“Promise,” Lit Say she said to Him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom.” Mt 16:28; 19:28; 25:31,34; Lk 23:42
22But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup Figurative language referring to His coming suffering; Mt 26:39; Jn 18:11 that I am about to drink?” Other mss add and (or) to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” Is 51:22; Jr 49:12; Mk 14:36
“We are able,” they said to Him.
23He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. Other mss add and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” Ac 12:2; Rv 1:9
24When the 10 disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers.
25But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them.
26It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Mt 23:11; Mk 9:35
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, Lk 22:27; Jn 13:13-15; 2Co 8:9; Php 2:7 and to give His life — a ransom for many.” Mt 26:28; 1Tm 2:6; Ti 2:14; Heb 9:28
Two Blind Men Healed
29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. Mk 10:46-52; Lk 18:35-43
30There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! ”
31The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! ” Mt 9:27; 21:9; 22:42
32Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you? ”
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by Holman Bible Publishers
