The Gospel According to
Matthew 20
34 verses≈ 5 min3 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
The Parable of the Workers
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When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’
The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.
On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.
The first hired
‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’
The landowner
But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
are you envious because I am generous?
Matthew 20:15
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Reflect
Envious of grace?
The workers who grumbled were not cheated. They got exactly what they agreed to. What stung was watching someone else receive more than he earned. Where do you find yourself keeping score with God, or with other people? Hear the landowner’s question as if it were spoken to you: “are you envious because I am generous?”
The Third Prediction of the Passion
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life.”
0:22
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
A Mother’s Request
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
Jesus
“What do you want?”
He inquired.
Mother of Zebedee’s sons
She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”
Jesus
“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied.
“Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered.
“You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
to give His life as a ransom for many
Matthew 20:28
Who gets the seats?
Whiteboard
The brothers asked for the best seats. Jesus answered with a cup to drink and a different kind of greatness: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,” just as He came “to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Question
Quick question
Mark tells this story too, but Matthew adds someone who comes with James and John.
Who knelt before Jesus to ask for the seats at His right and left?
The Blind Men by the Road
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Leaving Jericho
From Jericho, the oasis town near the Jordan, the road climbs about fifteen miles and more than 3,000 feet up through the wilderness to Jerusalem. Jesus has told the Twelve, “we are going up to Jerusalem.” Now He leaves Jericho with a large crowd behind Him.
As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And there were two blind men sitting beside the road.
Two blind men
When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them.
Jesus
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
He asked.
Two blind men
“Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
Pray
What do you want?
Jesus asked the mother and the two blind men almost the same question. She asked for seats of honor. They asked, “let our eyes be opened.” “Moved with compassion,” Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they could see, and they followed Him. Tell Him honestly what you need to see today, and ask for grace to follow.
You’ve experienced
Matthew 20
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A verse to carry with you
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
Matthew 20:16
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