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MATTHEW
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Chapter 20
Matt OEB 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards.
Matt OEB 20:2  He agreed with the laborers to pay them the standard daily rate of two silver coins, and sent them into his vineyard.
Matt OEB 20:3  On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the marketplace, doing nothing.
Matt OEB 20:4  ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’
Matt OEB 20:5  So they went. Going out again about midday and about three o’clock, he did as before.
Matt OEB 20:6  When he went out about five, he found some others standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?’
Matt OEB 20:7  ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said.
Matt OEB 20:8  In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward ‘Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first.
Matt OEB 20:9  Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two silver coins each.
Matt OEB 20:10  So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two silver coins each;
Matt OEB 20:11  on which they began to grumble at their employer.
Matt OEB 20:12  ‘These last,’ they said, ‘have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.’
Matt OEB 20:13  ‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two silver coins?
Matt OEB 20:14  Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you.
Matt OEB 20:15  Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?’
Matt OEB 20:16  So those who are last will be first, and the first last.”
Matt OEB 20:17  When Jesus was on the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples around him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way:
Matt OEB 20:18  “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law, and they will condemn him to death,
Matt OEB 20:19  and give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.”
Matt OEB 20:20  Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor.
Matt OEB 20:21  “What is it that you want?” he asked. “I want you to say,” she replied, “that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.”
Matt OEB 20:22  “You do not know what you are asking,” was Jesus’ answer. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?” “Yes,” they exclaimed, “we can.”
Matt OEB 20:23  “You will indeed drink my cup,” he said, “but as to a seat at my right and at my left — that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
Matt OEB 20:24  On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers.
Matt OEB 20:25  Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said: “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their high officials oppress them.
Matt OEB 20:27  No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave;
Matt OEB 20:28  just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matt OEB 20:29  As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.
Matt OEB 20:30  Two blind men who were sitting by the roadside, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”
Matt OEB 20:31  The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!”
Matt OEB 20:32  Then Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he said.
Matt OEB 20:33  “Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.”
Matt OEB 20:34  So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.