The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
1For 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. 2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They 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.
8So 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. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, 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. 13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Third Prediction of Death, Resurrection
(Mark 10:32-34)
17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18Behold, 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, 19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
A Mother's Request
(Mark 10:35-45)
20Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21And 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. 22But 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. 23And 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.
24And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25But 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. 26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
(Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)
29And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30And, 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. 31And 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. 32And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Parable of the Workers
1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4 To them he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’ 7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
8 When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ 9 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 12 saying, ‘These last have spent 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 answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Third Prediction of the Passion
(Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34)
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”
A Mother’s Request
(Mark 10:35–45)
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him. 21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 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.”
The Blind Men by the Road
(Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43)
29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 32 Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
The Parable of the Workers
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius a for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 About the third hour b he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 ‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour c and did the same thing.
6 About the eleventh hour d he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked.
7 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’ e
8 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.’
9 The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.
11 On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘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.’
13 But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” f
The Third Prediction of the Passion
(Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34)
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said, 18 “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 19 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.”
A Mother’s Request
(Mark 10:35–45)
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
21 “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.”
22 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” g
“We can,” the brothers answered.
23 “You will indeed drink My cup,” h 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.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But 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. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— 28 just 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
(Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43)
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 And 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!”
31 The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.
33 “Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”
34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
Footnotes:
2 a A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; similarly in verses 9, 10, and 13.
3 b That is, about nine in the morning
5 c That is, about noon and again about three in the afternoon
6 d That is, about five in the afternoon; also in verse 9
7 e BYZ and TR include and whatever is right, you shall receive.
16 f BYZ and TR include For many are called, but few are chosen.
22 g BYZ includes or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. TR is similar.
23 h BYZ and TR include and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized .
The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
1'For the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a householder, who went forth with the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard, 2and having agreed with the workmen for a denary a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3'And having gone forth about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market-place idle, 4and to these he said, Go ye -- also ye -- to the vineyard, and whatever may be righteous I will give you; 5and they went away. 'Again, having gone forth about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did in like manner. 6And about the eleventh hour, having gone forth, he found others standing idle, and saith to them, Why here have ye stood all the day idle? 7they say to him, Because no one did hire us; he saith to them, Go ye -- ye also -- to the vineyard, and whatever may be righteous ye shall receive.
8'And evening having come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward, Call the workmen, and pay them the reward, having begun from the last -- unto the first. 9And they of about the eleventh hour having come, did receive each a denary. 10'And the first having come, did suppose that they shall receive more, and they received, they also, each a denary, 11and having received it, they were murmuring against the householder, saying, 12that These, the last, wrought one hour, and thou didst make them equal to us, who were bearing the burden of the day -- and the heat. 13'And he answering said to one of them, Comrade, I do no unrighteousness to thee; for a denary didst not thou agree with me? 14take that which is thine, and go; and I will to give to this, the last, also as to thee; 15is it not lawful to me to do what I will in mine own? is thine eye evil because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many are called, and few chosen.'
Third Prediction of Death, Resurrection
(Mark 10:32-34)
17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples by themselves in the way, and said to them, 18'Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, 19and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the nations to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify, and the third day he will rise again.'
A Mother's Request
(Mark 10:35-45)
20Then came near to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, bowing and asking something from him, 21and he said to her, 'What wilt thou?' She saith to him, 'Say, that they may sit -- these my two sons -- one on thy right hand, and one on the left, in thy reign.' 22And Jesus answering said, 'Ye have not known what ye ask for yourselves; are ye able to drink of the cup that I am about to drink? and with the baptism that I am baptized with, to be baptized?' They say to him, 'We are able.' 23And he saith to them, 'Of my cup indeed ye shall drink, and with the baptism that I am baptized with ye shall be baptized; but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but -- to those for whom it hath been prepared by my father.'
24And the ten having heard, were much displeased with the two brothers, 25and Jesus having called them near, said, 'Ye have known that the rulers of the nations do exercise lordship over them, and those great do exercise authority over them, 26but not so shall it be among you, but whoever may will among you to become great, let him be your ministrant; 27and whoever may will among you to be first, let him be your servant; 28even as the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.'
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
(Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)
29And they going forth from Jericho, there followed him a great multitude, 30and lo, two blind men sitting by the way, having heard that Jesus doth pass by, cried, saying, 'Deal kindly with us, sir -- Son of David.' 31And the multitude charged them that they might be silent, and they cried out the more, saying, 'Deal kindly with us sir -- Son of David.' 32And having stood, Jesus called them, and said, 'What will ye that I may do to you?' 33they say to him, 'Sir, that our eyes may be opened;' 34and having been moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
The Favor of God Message paraphrase
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
¹ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
² He agreed to pay them a denarius* for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
³ About nine in the morning, he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
⁴ He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
⁵ So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
⁶ About five in the afternoon, he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’
⁷ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
⁹ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.
¹⁰ So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
¹¹ When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
¹² ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.
¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
¹⁶ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
¹⁷ Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, He took the Twelve aside and said to them,
¹⁸ “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death
¹⁹ and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!”
A Mother’s Request
²⁰ Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of Him.
²¹ “What is it you want?” He asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your kingdom.”
²² “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
²³ Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from My cup, but to sit at My right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by My Father.”
²⁴ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
²⁵ Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
²⁹ As Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.
³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”*
³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.
³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him.
Footnotes:
20:2: A “denarius” was a typical day’s wage for a laborer during Jesus’ time.
20:16: This phrase highlights God’s grace—many who are seemingly “last” in worldly standards will be honored by God, while those who expect honor may be humbled.
20:19: Jesus’ clear prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection reminds His disciples of His purpose and foreshadows the coming events in Jerusalem.
20:22: “The cup” refers to Jesus’ impending suffering and death, and He challenges the disciples’ understanding of the cost of following Him.
20:28: Jesus uses His own example of servanthood to teach His disciples that greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humble service, not through power or privilege.
20:30: The title “Son of David” is a Messianic title, recognizing Jesus as the promised descendant of King David who would bring salvation.
20:34: Jesus’ compassion reflects His deep care for those in need, and the healing of the blind men is a tangible demonstration of His power and mercy.
