Matthew 20:1-34, NLT
Matthew 20
Parable of the Vineyard Workers
1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
3“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.
6“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
7“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
8“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.
13“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?
16“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
20Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
22But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
23Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
24When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.
31“Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.
But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”
33“Lord,” they said, “we want to see!”