Matthew 20:1-34 King James Version

The Parable of Laborers, Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection, a Lesson on Servant Leadership, Healing of Blind Men

Matthew 20:1-34 King James Version. Matthew chapter 20 conveys themes of God’s grace, the nature of true discipleship, servant leadership, and the compassionate power of Jesus. It challenges readers to align their values with the teachings of Jesus and to understand that God’s ways and rewards often differ from human expectations.

Here you will read several teachings of Jesus, including the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, a prediction of His death and resurrection, a lesson on servant leadership, and the healing of two blind men.

Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard – Verses 1-16

• Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard at different times throughout the day. At the end of the day, he pays all the workers the same wage, starting with those who were hired last.
• The workers who were hired first complain about receiving the same pay as those who worked fewer hours.
• The landowner responds that he is not being unfair and that he has the right to do what he wants with his money. He emphasizes that the last will be first, and the first will be last.

This parable illustrates the generosity of God’s grace and the principle that God’s rewards are not based on human standards of fairness. It emphasizes that all who enter the Kingdom of Heaven, regardless of when they come, receive the same gift of eternal life.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection – Verses 17-19

• Jesus takes the Twelve disciples aside and predicts His betrayal, condemnation, mocking, flogging, crucifixion, and resurrection on the third day. Jesus places His hands on the children and blesses them.

This is one of several predictions Jesus makes about His suffering and death, underscoring His mission and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

A Mother’s Request – Verses 20-28

• The mother of James and John asks Jesus to grant her sons the privilege of sitting at His right and left in His kingdom.
• Jesus responds by asking if they can drink the cup He is going to drink. They claim they can, and Jesus acknowledges they will share in His suffering but states that the places of honor are for those for whom they have been prepared by the Father.
• The other disciples become indignant, and Jesus teaches about servant leadership, saying that whoever wants to become great must be a servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave. He emphasizes that He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

This passage teaches about true greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven, which is characterized by humility, service, and self-sacrifice, contrasting with worldly views of power and status.

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men – Verses 29-34

• As Jesus and His disciples leave Jericho, two blind men call out to Him, addressing Him as the Son of David and asking for mercy.
• The crowd rebukes them, but they persist. Jesus stops, asks what they want, and upon hearing their request to have their sight restored, He has compassion on them and heals them.

This miracle demonstrates Jesus’ compassion and power, affirming His identity as the Messiah (Son of David). It also highlights the importance of faith and persistence in seeking Jesus.

Matthew 20:1-34 King James Version

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, 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 shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.