Matthew 20 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Matthew 20

Laborers in the Vineyard

20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius¹ a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’² 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

A Mother’s Request

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,³ 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,⁴ 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord,⁵ have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Footnotes

[1] 20:2 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer
[2] 20:15 Or is your eye bad because I am good?
[3] 20:26 Greek diakonos
[4] 20:27 Or bondservant, or servant (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
[5] 20:30 Some manuscripts omit Lord

Commentary

v1-8: Jesus brings few parables during the journey to Jerusalem. He speaks of calling workers throughout the day, early in the morning, then at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours. At the end of the day, each one is paid, beginning with the last, who receive one denarius, the same as all the others.

The landowner himself, picturing God the Father, goes out to hire the workers, indicating that there is much work to be done. The landowner goes out three more times to hire more workers. Our call from God is something first hand.

Notice too that the reward is promised as "whatever is right;" implying that the workers trust the landowner. There is no doubt that the Lord God will reward those who serve Him, but we must trust Him with the manner and timing of the reward.

v9-10: Those who served for longer expect to receive more; paying them last draws attention to this, as they will see the others being paid ahead of them.

In fact, a coin, the PONDION, valued at 1/12th of a denarius, was available, but deliberately not used. We cannot know 1/12th of God's love, for in Christ we receive every spiritual blessing.

v11-12: The vineyard workers grumble against the landowner and the other workers, bringing an accusation of injustice, see James 4.1-2.

The true servant of Christ is not self-centred, he is grateful not grumbling, and generous in mind towards others.

v13-16: God has the right to do what He likes, and there is no appeal against Him. What some see as injustice is actually generosity. The meaning of the parable is clear; there is reward for service for Christ, yet we are not entitled to make self-righteous judgments.

v17-19: A further reminder of what is about to happen.

v20: Not everyone who kneels in prayer asks for the right thing, nor has the right attitude.

v21-22: The desire for position and prestige; a common attitude, but not a spiritual attitude.

v23: The Lord would not give the special position that is asked of Him. But He expects a real commitment; to drink from His cup implies real suffering.

v24: The other apostles criticise James and John. Here is grumbling and bickering, characteristic of the vineyard workers. The spiritual attitude is to be satisfied with what the Lord gives.

v25-28: The example of Christ, the servant of God. The way of the world is different to the way of God; even Rehoboam was challenged to be a servant to his people (1 Kings 12.7). The world seeks authority over others, but the servant of God is happy to serve others, giving practical help. In particular, in the church, the deacon is a servant, 1 Tim 3.10.

The Lord may demand much, but He also rewards, see 19.29.

v29-30: Matthew jumps ahead in is narrative, bringing the reader to the departure from Jericho, ready to enter Jerusalem.

Compare Luke 18.36, which seems to describe a different incident. Matthew again describes two men, rather than one, see 8.28.

v31: The example of persistent prayer, whatever discouragement may be given. Prayer trusts the Lord with all situations and problems.

v32-34: The Lord stops, asking a question, "What do you want me to do for you?" seeking to expose a greater need.