Matthew Chapter 20

Commentary

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.

Parable of the Vineyard Workers

¹ "Heaven's Kingdom," Jesus continued, "can be compared to a vineyard owner who went out at dawn to hire workers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing to pay them the standard daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard to begin their work. ³ Around 9 am, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, hoping for work. ⁴ He told them, 'You also go work in my vineyard, and I'll pay you whatever is right.' Trusting his word, they went. ⁵ He did the same thing at noon and again at 3 pm, seeing the needs of those still seeking work. ⁶ About 5 pm, he found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day without work?' ⁷ They replied, 'Because no one has hired us.' Showing compassion, he said, 'You also go work in my vineyard.'

⁸ When evening came, the vineyard owner instructed his foreman: 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going to the first.' ⁹ The workers hired at 5 pm each received a full day's wage, far exceeding their expectations. ¹⁰ When those hired first came forward, they expected to receive more. But each of them also received the agreed-upon daily wage. ¹¹ Upon receiving their pay, they began grumbling against the landowner, their sense of fairness offended. ¹² They protested, 'These last workers only put in one hour, yet you've made them equal to us who bore the day's full burden and scorching heat!'

¹³ The owner replied to their spokesperson: 'Friend, I'm not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for the standard daily wage? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I wanted to give the ones 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 As Jesus led His disciples up towards Jerusalem, He took the twelve aside privately. The time had come for Him to repeat what lay ahead. ¹⁸ "Listen carefully," He said. "We are going up to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of religious law, who will condemn Him to death. ¹⁹ They will hand Him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged, and crucified. But on the third day, He will rise to life!" But again this explicit prediction remained veiled to their understanding.

A Mother’s Request

²⁰ Then the mother of James and John, Zebedee's sons, approached Jesus with her sons. Kneeling respectfully, she had a special request. ²¹ "What is your request?" Jesus asked. She replied, "Command that these two sons of mine will sit at Your right and left hand when You establish Your Kingdom!" ²² Jesus responded to the brothers directly: "You don't understand what you're asking. Can you drink the cup of suffering I am about to drink?" "We can," they answered, not grasping its full meaning. ²³ Jesus said to them, "You will indeed share My cup of suffering. But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These places belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them." ²⁴ When the other ten disciples heard about this request, they became indignant with the two brothers, revealing their own ambitious hearts.

²⁵ Jesus called them all together and said, "You know how worldly rulers lord their authority over others, and high officials throw their weight around. ²⁶ But it must not be this way among you! Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must become your servant. ²⁷ And whoever wants to be first must become 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 they left Jericho, a large crowd followed Jesus, drawn by His reputation and message. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" ³¹ The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" ³² Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want Me to do for you?" ³³ "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight!" ³⁴ Moved with heartfelt compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him with utmost devotion.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Matthew 20?
2Context of Matthew 20
3Ancient Key Word Study
4Matthew 20 Unique Insights
5Question the Text
6Matthew 20 Connections to Yeshua
7Matthew 20 Scriptural Echoes
8Matthew 20 Devotional
9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Matthew 20?

Have you ever stood in line for hours, only to watch someone who just arrived get the same VIP treatment as you? That feeling of “Wait, that’s not fair!” burning in your chest? In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a story about workers in a vineyard that triggers exactly that reaction—and then turns our entire understanding of fairness upside down.

This chapter catches Jesus on His final journey to Jerusalem, where the shadow of the cross looms ever larger. With the clock ticking on His earthly ministry, He delivers some of His most provocative teachings about what His kingdom really values. Through a parable that still makes readers uncomfortable today, Jesus reveals a God whose generosity breaks all our rules about who deserves what.

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But the radical nature of God’s kingdom doesn’t stop there. When two of His disciples try to secure positions of power, Jesus confronts our endless jockeying for status with a revolutionary vision of leadership: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

The chapter concludes with two blind men who, ironically, see what even the disciples cannot—that Jesus is the merciful Son of David who can restore what’s broken in us. These ancient teachings still have the power to challenge our deepest assumptions about worth, power, and what it really means to follow Jesus today.

Context of Matthew 20

This chapter sits at a crucial juncture in Matthew’s Gospel, coming after Jesus’ teachings on wealth, divorce, and children in chapter 19, and before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem in chapter 21. The positioning is significant as Jesus approaches Jerusalem for the final time, intensifying His teaching on the true nature of His kingdom and preparing His disciples for the impending crucifixion.

The larger context reveals Matthew’s careful arrangement of Jesus’ teachings and actions to demonstrate how the Messiah’s kingdom inverts human expectations. This chapter particularly resonates with Matthew’s broader themes of discipleship, servanthood, and the radical nature of God’s grace. It serves as a pivotal point in the Gospel’s narrative arc, where Jesus increasingly emphasizes the cost of discipleship and the surprising ways God’s kingdom operates.

These teachings also echo back to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29), where Jesus first introduced the counter-cultural values of His kingdom. Now, as He approaches Jerusalem, these principles are further illustrated through parables and direct teaching, preparing both the disciples and readers for the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership at the cross.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • μισθός (misthos) – “Wages” (v.8): This term carried significant weight in ancient Mediterranean culture, where day laborers lived on subsistence wages. The word appears in both secular and sacred contexts, often used in the Septuagint for God’s rewards. Its use here emphasizes both literal payment and spiritual recompense, highlighting the tension between human expectations and divine generosity.
  • ἴσος (isos) – “Equal” (v.12): Used to express the workers’ complaint of receiving equal pay despite unequal hours. In classical Greek, this word carried legal and philosophical implications of justice and fairness, making its use here particularly pointed in challenging human concepts of equity and justice.
  • ὀφθαλμός πονηρός (ophthalmos ponēros) – “Evil eye” (v.15): A Semitic idiom for envy or stinginess. This phrase appears in various ancient Near Eastern texts, reflecting a widespread cultural understanding of the “evil eye” as a manifestation of malevolent jealousy or greed.
  • διακονέω (diakoneō) – “To serve” (v.28): The root of our English word “deacon,” this term originally referred to waiting on tables but evolved to encompass broader concepts of service. Jesus elevates this “lowly” term to describe His redemptive mission.
  • λύτρον (lutron) – “Ransom” (v.28): A technical term from the slave market, referring to the price paid to free a slave. Its use here carries deep theological significance, drawing on Old Testament concepts of redemption and freedom.
  • σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai) – “Moved with compassion” (v.34): A visceral term literally referring to one’s inner organs, used to describe deep emotional response. This word appears frequently in descriptions of Jesus’ reactions to human need.
  • ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō) – “Follow” (v.34): More than mere physical following, this term implies discipleship and complete devotion. Its use at the chapter’s conclusion creates a powerful bookend with the earlier teachings on discipleship.

Matthew 20 Unique Insights

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The parable of the laborers contains a fascinating numerical pattern that Jewish readers would have recognized. The five different times the owner goes out (dawn, 3rd hour, 6th hour, 9th hour, 11th hour) correspond to the five books of Torah, suggesting God’s repeated initiatives in salvation history. The Rabbinical commentary Pesikta de-Rav Kahana draws parallels between these times and God’s various covenantal calls throughout Israel’s history.

Early church father John Chrysostom noted that this chapter presents three progressive revelations about spiritual blindness: the envious laborers who cannot see God’s generosity, the disciples who cannot see the necessity of the cross, and the physically blind men who paradoxically see Jesus’ true identity. This three-fold pattern emphasizes the chapter’s theme of spiritual perception versus spiritual blindness.

Question the Text

  • Verse 1-2: Why does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven to a landowner hiring laborers? What might this tell us about how God’s economy differs from human economic systems?
  • Verse 6-7: Why does the landowner specifically ask those standing idle at the eleventh hour, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” What does this question reveal about the landowner’s perspective, and how might this reflect God’s viewpoint on human potential and purpose?
  • Verse 8-10: What expectations do we bring to concepts of fairness and reward? Why might the first workers have assumed they would receive more despite agreeing to a specific wage?
  • Verse 13-15: How does the landowner’s response challenge our understanding of justice versus generosity? What does the question “Are you envious because I am generous?” reveal about human nature and our reactions to others receiving unmerited grace?
  • Verse 16: How does the statement “the last will be first, and the first will be last” function as both a challenge and comfort depending on one’s position? What established hierarchies was Jesus overturning with this principle?
  • Verse 20-21: Why does the mother of James and John make this request instead of the disciples themselves? What does this reveal about family dynamics and ambition in the disciples’ circle?
  • Verse 22: When Jesus asks, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” what might the disciples have understood by this metaphor, and why did they respond so confidently without seemingly understanding what He meant?
  • Verse 24: Why were the ten disciples indignant? Was their anger about the impropriety of the request or their own disappointed ambitions?
  • Verse 26-28: How does Jesus’ definition of greatness (“whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant”) fundamentally challenge both ancient and modern concepts of power and success?
  • Verse 30-34: Why does the crowd rebuke the blind men for crying out to Jesus? What does Jesus’ willingness to stop for marginalized individuals reveal about His character and priorities compared to the crowd’s?

Matthew 20 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter powerfully presents Jesus as both the generous vineyard owner and the suffering servant. The parable of the laborers foreshadows His radical grace demonstrated at the cross, where salvation is offered equally to all who respond to His call, regardless of when they come. The doctrine of justification by faith alone finds a strong foundation in this teaching.

Jesus’ third prediction of His death and resurrection (vv.17-19) explicitly connects His mission to Isaiah’s Suffering Servant prophecies. His statement about giving His life as a ransom for many (v.28) draws on the Day of Atonement imagery, where the high priest risked his life to make a ransom for Israel’s sins. This theological framework helps us understand how Jesus viewed His approaching sacrifice as both High Priest and sacrificial lamb.

Matthew 20 Scriptural Echoes

The vineyard imagery recalls Isaiah 5:1-7, where Israel is portrayed as God’s vineyard. However, Matthew 20 expands this metaphor to include Gentiles, anticipating the universal scope of the Gospel. The payment of a denarius echoes the half-shekel temple tax (Exodus 30:13-16), suggesting themes of redemption and equality before God.

Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership directly connects to Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 9:9, prophetic texts that portrayed the Messiah as a humble servant rather than a conquering king. The healing of the blind men fulfills Isaiah 35:5 and prefigures the spiritual sight Jesus gives to all who follow Him.

Matthew 20 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our hearts regarding God’s grace toward others. Do we, like the early-morning workers, resent God’s generosity to late-coming believers? The parable reminds us that God’s grace isn’t earned but freely given, calling us to celebrate rather than begrudge His kindness to others.

Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership confronts our ambitions and desire for recognition. In a world obsessed with status and influence, we’re called to follow our Messiah’s example of sacrificial service. True greatness in God’s kingdom is measured not by how many serve us, but by how faithfully we serve others.

The healing of the blind men encourages us to persistently cry out to Jesus despite opposition. Their simple faith and immediate response to follow Jesus after receiving sight presents a model of discipleship: when Jesus opens our spiritual eyes, we’re called to follow Him on the path of service and sacrifice.

Did You Know

  • The denarius mentioned in the parable was the standard daily wage in first-century Judea, roughly equivalent to a skilled laborer’s pay. Archaeological evidence shows it could support a small family’s basic needs for one day.
  • The practice of hiring day laborers still exists in modern Israel, with workers gathering in city squares early in the morning, much as they did in Jesus’ time.
  • The title “Son of David” used by the blind men was a well-known messianic designation, based on the covenant promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16.
  • The road from Jericho to Jerusalem, where the healing took place, rises about 3,300 feet in just 17 miles, making it a challenging journey even for those with sight.
  • The request for the right and left hand positions had political significance in ancient royal courts, where these seats represented the highest positions of authority after the king.
  • The “cup” Jesus references was a common Jewish metaphor for one’s destiny or lot in life, particularly referring to suffering or judgment in prophetic literature.
  • The phrase “evil eye” (v.15) was considered a serious curse in ancient Middle Eastern culture, making the landowner’s response particularly pointed in addressing the workers’ envy.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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