Matthew Chapter 20 — The Vineyard Parable and Servant Leadership
Jesus teaches a parable about laborers in a vineyard, foretells His upcoming death in Jerusalem, and explains that greatness comes through service.
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.
2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius*A denarius is a silver Roman coin worth 1/25th of a Roman aureus. This was a common wage for a day of farm labor. a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3He went out about the third hour,†Time was measured from sunrise to sunset, so the third hour would be about 9:00 a.m. and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
4He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.
5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour,‡noon and 3:00 p.m. and did likewise.
6About the eleventh hour§5:00 p.m. 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.’
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.
10When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
11When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
12saying, ‘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?
14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
17As 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,
19and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”
20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21He said to her, “What do you want?”
22But 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?”
23He 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.”
24When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25But 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.
26It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be*TR reads “let him be” instead of “shall be” your servant.
27Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
28even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
29As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30Behold, 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!”
31The 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!”
32Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
33They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
34Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Matthew 20:16
“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
This verse concludes the parable of the vineyard and highlights the counter-cultural nature of God's kingdom.
Matthew 20:28
“even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This is a key Christological statement defining Jesus' mission as one of sacrifice and service.
Chapter Summary
In Matthew 20, Jesus provides a lesson on the Kingdom of Heaven through the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, where workers hired at different times all receive the same daily wage. This illustrates God's grace and the principle that the last will be first. As Jesus and His disciples travel toward Jerusalem, He predicts for the third time His betrayal, condemnation, and eventual resurrection. The mother of James and John then approaches Jesus to request positions of high honor for her sons. Jesus uses this moment to teach the disciples that while worldly rulers lord their authority over others, greatness in His kingdom is achieved through humility and service. He notes that His own mission is to serve and provide His life as a ransom for many. The chapter concludes with Jesus healing two blind men near Jericho who cry out for mercy, demonstrating His compassion despite the crowd's attempt to silence them.
Frequently Asked Questions
The parable teaches that God's grace and rewards are not distributed according to human standards of fairness or merit. The landowner's generosity toward those hired late represents God's right to show equal grace to all who enter His kingdom.
Jesus told His twelve disciples that He would be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, and handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged, and crucified. He also promised He would be raised on the third day.
Jesus defines greatness as being a servant to others. He explains that while secular rulers exercise authority over people, those who wish to be first in His kingdom must be willing to be a bondservant, following His example of service.
The text does not name them, but describes them as two men sitting by the road near Jericho. Despite being rebuked by the crowd, they called out to Jesus as the 'Son of David,' and Jesus healed them out of compassion.
Study Note
A 'denarius' was the standard daily wage for a common laborer in the first century, making the landowner's payment to the one-hour workers an act of extreme generosity.
Related Chapters
Matthew 19
The previous chapter ends with the teaching that the first shall be last, which the parable in chapter 20 explains.
Mark 10
This chapter contains parallel accounts of the request for status and the healing of the blind men.
Luke 22
Luke 22 provides further context on Jesus' teaching about leadership through service during the Last Supper.
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