Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20 - New King James Version (2024)

Table of Contents
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection(E) Greatness Is Serving(M) Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight(AC) FAQs References

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Listen to Matthew 20

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing [a]idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, [b]and whatever is right you will receive.’

8“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11And when they had received it, they [c]complained against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15(A)Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or (B)is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16(C)So the last will be first, and the first last. (D)For[d] many are called, but few chosen.”

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection(E)

17(F)Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18(G)“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19(H)and deliver Him to the Gentiles to (I)mock and to (J)scourge and to (K)crucify. And the third day He will (L)rise again.”

Greatness Is Serving(M)

20(N)Then the mother of (O)Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine (P)may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

22But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink (Q)the cup that I am about to drink, [e]and be baptized with (R)the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

23So He said to them, (S)“You will indeed drink My cup, [f]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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

24(T)And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26Yet (U)it shall not be so among you; but (V)whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27(W)And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28(X)just as the (Y)Son of Man did not come to be served, (Z)but to serve, and (AA)to give His life a ransom (AB)for many.”

Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight(AC)

29(AD)Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30And behold, (AE)two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, (AF)Son of David!”

31Then the multitude (AG)warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

32So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

33They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34So Jesus had (AH)compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 20:6 NU omits idle
  2. Matthew 20:7 NU omits the rest of v. 7.
  3. Matthew 20:11 grumbled
  4. Matthew 20:16 NU omits the rest of v. 16.
  5. Matthew 20:22 NU omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
  6. Matthew 20:23 NU omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with

Cross references

  1. Matthew 20:15 : [Rom. 9:20, 21]
  2. Matthew 20:15 : Deut. 15:9; Prov. 23:6; [Matt. 6:23]; Mark 7:22
  3. Matthew 20:16 : Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30
  4. Matthew 20:16 : Matt. 22:14
  5. Matthew 20:17 : Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34
  6. Matthew 20:17 : Matt. 20:17–19; Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–33; John 12:12
  7. Matthew 20:18 : Matt. 16:21; 26:47–57; Mark 14:42, 64; John 18:5; 19:7
  8. Matthew 20:19 : Matt. 27:2; Mark 15:1, 16; Luke 23:1; John 18:28; Acts 3:13
  9. Matthew 20:19 : Matt. 26:67, 68; 27:29, 41; Mark 15:20, 31
  10. Matthew 20:19 : Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1
  11. Matthew 20:19 : Matt. 27:35; Luke 23:33; Acts 3:13–15
  12. Matthew 20:19 : Matt. 28:5, 6; Mark 16:6, 9; Luke 24:5–8, 46; Acts 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4
  13. Matthew 20:20 : Mark 10:35–45
  14. Matthew 20:20 : Mark 10:35–45
  15. Matthew 20:20 : Matt. 4:21; 10:2
  16. Matthew 20:21 : [Matt. 19:28]
  17. Matthew 20:22 : Is. 51:17, 22; Jer. 49:12; Matt. 26:39, 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 18:11
  18. Matthew 20:22 : Luke 12:50
  19. Matthew 20:23 : [Acts 12:2; Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 1:7; Rev. 1:9]
  20. Matthew 20:24 : Mark 10:41; Luke 22:24, 25
  21. Matthew 20:26 : [1 Pet. 5:3]
  22. Matthew 20:26 : Matt. 23:11; Mark 9:35; 10:43; Luke 22:26
  23. Matthew 20:27 : [Matt. 18:4]
  24. Matthew 20:28 : John 13:4
  25. Matthew 20:28 : [Matt. 26:28; John 13:13; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6, 7; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 1:5]
  26. Matthew 20:28 : Luke 22:27; John 13:14
  27. Matthew 20:28 : [Is. 53:10, 11; Dan. 9:24, 26; John 11:51, 52; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19]
  28. Matthew 20:28 : [Rom. 5:15, 19; Heb. 9:28]
  29. Matthew 20:29 : Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43
  30. Matthew 20:29 : Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43
  31. Matthew 20:30 : Matt. 9:27
  32. Matthew 20:30 : [2 Sam. 7:14–17; Ps. 89:3–5, 19–37; Is. 11:10–12; Ezek. 37:21–25]; Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:31, 32; [Acts 15:14–17]
  33. Matthew 20:31 : Matt. 19:13
  34. Matthew 20:34 : Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 18:27
See Also
Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20 - New King James VersionMatthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCBEnduring Word Bible Commentary Matthew Chapter 20Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20 - New International Version
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New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20 - New King James Version (1)

See Also
Matthew 20:20 - A Mother's Request

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Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 20 - New King James Version (2024)

FAQs

What is the main message of Matthew 20? ›

This is a parable about the kingdom of heaven that shows His disciples that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. This parable makes it clear that it is never too late to begin living faithfully. God will give great rewards to some people who come to understanding much later in life.

Read More ›
What is the moral lesson from Matthew 20:1-16? ›

This parable teaches that all who choose to dedicate their lives to Him will receive the promised reward, regardless of when they may have begun to walk the covenant path. This lesson can help you feel hope that you will receive the blessings that Jesus Christ offers through His Atonement.

Read The Full Story ›
What is the Bible verse Matthew 20? ›

Bible Gateway Matthew 20 :: NIV. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

Show Me More ›
What is the meaning of Matthew 20 1 15? ›

The general idea of the parable is that everyone comes to the vineyard (faith) at different points in their lives. Some people are lifelong disciples of Jesus, and some people convert only toward the end of their lives. In the kingdom of God, both groups are treated the same.

Discover More ›
What is the main message Matthew is trying to send? ›

Matthew wrote his account of Jesus's ministry to show that Jesus was and is indeed the King, Israel's long-awaited Messiah. He reflected this concern in his opening line, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

See Details ›
What is the main lesson in Matthew? ›

Matthew wanted to show how Jesus is the continuation and fulfillment of the whole biblical story of God and Israel, so he emphasizes that: Jesus is the Messiah from the line of David.

See Details ›
What does the vineyard represent in Matthew 20? ›

Unemployed day laborers were common. Vineyards were plentiful in Galilee. Vineyards commonly symbolized the people of Israel (Ps 80:8-9; Isa 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Jer 2:21; 12:10). 2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

Discover More ›
What moral lesson did Jesus teach through this parable? ›

The moral lesson that Jesus taught the through this parable is to love everybody, especially strangers and those who are in need of help. Was this answer helpful?

Get More Info ›
What does the first shall be last mean? ›

Jesus ends the parable with the statement, “The last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). The most direct interpretation, based on the content of the parable, is that all believers, no matter how long or how hard they work during this lifetime, will receive the same reward: That is eternal life.

Keep Reading ›
What lesson does Matthew 20 28 reveal to us? ›

Jesus tells the disciples that true greatness won't come by flaunting authority as the Gentile leaders do. Instead, they will become great by serving each other, even as a slave does, as Jesus Himself has done.

Show Me More ›

What does Jesus mean in Matthew 20 22? ›

He is symbolically referring to suffering and judgment, using a common picture from the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus is asking if they are prepared to suffer as deeply as He is about to: when He will be tortured, sacrificed, and killed on the cross in Jerusalem.

Tell Me More ›
What is the meaning of Matthew 20 16? ›

Matthew 20:16 says: In this way, the last ones will be first, and the first ones last. This verse means that God does not judge people by their outward appearance, such as their social status, wealth, or achievements. Rather, he looks at their heart condition and their faithfulness to him.

Discover More Details ›
What is the meaning of Matthew Chapter 20? ›

(Read Matthew 20:1-16) The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews.

Tell Me More ›
What is the meaning of Matthew 20-23? ›

They responded with a yes and now Jesus says that they will "drink His cup." In other words, Jesus is saying that James and John will experience suffering as He will. This does not mean that they will experience all the suffering of Jesus, to the exact degree and severity of His experience on the cross.

Keep Reading ›
What is the meaning of Matthew 20 6? ›

The master of the house in Jesus' story has spent the entire day hiring temporary labor, day workers, to help with the work of his vineyard. This parable is about the kingdom of heaven, and the vineyard represents the work of the kingdom in this life for those who follow Jesus.

Discover More ›
What is the significance of Jesus driving out the money changers? ›

“Jesus drove the money-changers out because he said, 'My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves. ' God's action teaches me that if you are deceitful or use the church for the wrong reason, you will not be rewarded,” says Kosee, 10.

Know More ›
What is the main spiritual lesson of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector? ›

Understanding the text

Jesus wants to teach people the importance of praying with the right attitude. This parable is aimed at those who think they are very righteous and look down on others – that is, the Pharisees. Jews had to pray three times a day and people would go to the temple for private prayer.

Learn More ›
What does it mean when it says the last will be first and the first will be last? ›

Jesus ends the parable with the statement, “The last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). The most direct interpretation, based on the content of the parable, is that all believers, no matter how long or how hard they work during this lifetime, will receive the same reward: That is eternal life.

View Details ›

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