The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Study note
This parable challenges human notions of fairness with a picture of divine generosity. Workers hired at different hours all receive the same pay, provoking complaints from those who worked longest. The landowner's response -- 'Is your eye evil because I am generous?' -- reveals that God's grace is not earned by length of service but freely given according to his sovereign goodness. The parable illustrates that the last will be first and the first last, upending expectations about merit and reward.
1 "The kingdom of God is like this: A landowner got up at sunrise and went out to hire workers for his grape vineyard." 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 "He offered them the standard day's pay — a penny — and they agreed. Off they went to work in the vineyard." And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 "Around nine in the morning, he went back to the marketplace. He saw more people standing around with nothing to do." And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 "He told them, 'Go work in my vineyard, and I will pay you a fair wage.' They went." And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 "He went out again at noon and at three in the afternoon and hired more workers the same way." Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 "Late in the afternoon, around five o'clock, he found still more people standing around idle. He asked them, 'How come you have been here all day doing nothing?'" 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 told him, 'Nobody hired us.' He said, 'Head over to my vineyard, and you will get a fair wage.'" 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 "When the workday ended, the owner told his manager, 'Bring all the workers together and pay them. Start with the ones I hired last and end with the ones I hired first.'" 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 "The workers hired at five o'clock came forward, and each one got a full penny." And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 "When the workers who started at sunrise came up to get paid, they expected to get more. But each of them also received just one penny." But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 "They took the money but started grumbling at the landowner." And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 "They said, 'Those latecomers only worked one hour. Yet you are paying them the same as us! We worked through the heat all day long!'" 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 "The owner replied to one of them, 'Friend, I have not cheated you. Didn't we shake on one penny for the day?" 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 your pay and go home. I have decided to give the last workers the same amount I gave you." Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 "Don't I have the right to do whatever I want with my own money? Or are you jealous because I chose to be generous?'" Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 "That is how it works — the last will be first, and the first will be last. Many people receive the invitation, but only a few are selected." So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The Third Passion Prediction
Study note
As they approach Jerusalem, Jesus privately tells the twelve the most detailed prediction yet of his coming suffering. He will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, beaten, and crucified, and on the third day rise again. Each prediction adds more detail and draws nearer to fulfillment, building tension as the journey to Jerusalem continues.
17 On the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus took his twelve followers aside and told them, And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18 "We are heading to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of man will be turned over to the chief priests and scribes. They will sentence him to die." 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 "Then they will hand him to the Romans, who will ridicule him, whip him, and nail him to a cross. But on the third day, he will rise back to life." And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
True Greatness Through Service
Study note
The mother of James and John requests places of honor for her sons in Jesus' kingdom, revealing that even at this late stage, the disciples still expect an earthly kingdom. Jesus responds by contrasting worldly power with kingdom service: 'Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.' He then provides the ultimate example: 'The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' This statement is one of the clearest descriptions of the purpose of Jesus' death.
20 Then the mother of James and John — Zebedee's sons — came to Jesus with her boys. She knelt before him, ready to ask a favor. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 Jesus asked her, "What is it you want?" She said, "Please promise that when your kingdom comes, one of my sons will sit at your right side and the other at your left." 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 Jesus answered, "You have no idea what you are asking for. Can you handle the cup of suffering I am about to drink? Can you go through the baptism I am about to go through?" They answered, "We can." 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 Jesus said, "You will indeed share in my suffering. But choosing who sits at my right and left is not up to me. My Father has already decided who those spots belong to." 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 When the other ten followers found out what happened, they were furious with the two brothers. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
25 So Jesus gathered them all and said, "You have seen how rulers in this world throw their weight around. The powerful people love to boss everyone else." 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 "That is not how it should work among you. If you want to be great, become a servant to the others." But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 "And if you want to be first, make yourself a slave to everyone." And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 "Follow the example of the Son of man. He did not come so people would serve him. He came to serve others and to offer his own life to set many people free." Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Healing Two Blind Men Near Jericho
Study note
Two blind men cry out to Jesus as 'Lord, Son of David,' a messianic title, and persist despite the crowd's attempts to silence them. Jesus stops, asks what they want, and heals them out of compassion. Their immediate response of following Jesus demonstrates the grateful devotion that should accompany every encounter with his mercy. This healing near Jericho marks the final approach to Jerusalem and the cross.
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a massive crowd tagged along behind them. And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 Two blind men were sitting on the side of the road. When they heard Jesus was passing by, they started shouting, "Lord, Son of David, show us mercy!" 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 People told them to be quiet. But they shouted louder: "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 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 Jesus stopped walking and called out to them. He asked, "What would you like me to do for you?" And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
33 They said, "Lord, we want to be able to see." They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34 Jesus felt deep compassion for them. He reached out and touched their eyes. In that instant, both of them could see, and they followed him down the road. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.