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Matthew 20

Berean Standard Bible

Section headings and translator notes come from the publisher; they are reading aids, distinct from the Bible text.

The Parable of the Workers

Verse1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Verse2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

Verse3About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

Verse4‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’

Verse5So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.

Verse6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked.

Verse7‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’

Verse8When 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.’

Verse9The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.

Verse10So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.

Verse11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.

Verse12‘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.’

Verse13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?

Verse14Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.

Verse15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Verse16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

The Third Prediction of the Passion

Verse17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said,

Verse18“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

Verse19and 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.”

A Mother’s Request

Verse20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

Verse21“What do you want?” He inquired. 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.”

Verse22“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.

Verse23“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.”

Verse24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Verse25But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

Verse26It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

Verse27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—

Verse28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The Blind Men by the Road

Verse29As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.

Verse30And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Verse31The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Verse32Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.

Verse33“Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”

Verse34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.

Translator notes (8)
  • Verse 2: A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; similarly in verses 9, 10, and 13.
  • Verse 3: That is, about nine in the morning
  • Verse 5: That is, about noon and again about three in the afternoon
  • Verse 6: That is, about five in the afternoon; also in verse 9
  • Verse 7: BYZ and TR include and whatever is right, you shall receive.
  • Verse 16: BYZ and TR include For many are called, but few are chosen.
  • Verse 22: BYZ includes or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. TR is similar.
  • Verse 23: BYZ and TR include and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. Dedicated to the public domain by the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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Retrieved 2026-09-21 (UTC). Loaded from the provider.

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