Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:
(Matthew 20:1) "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard."
Jesus began this statement with "for," indicating its connection to the last verse in the last chapter, "But many who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first." He went on to explain that the kingdom of heaven was like a homeowner who went out in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
(2) "And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard."
The landowner agreed on payment for a day's wages of a denarius, a Roman silver coin, the usual payment for a day's labor, and then sent them into his vineyard.
(3) "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, (4) And said to them, "You also go into the vineyard and whatever is right, I will give you. And they went their way."
The Jews divided their days into twelve hours, beginning at sunrise, about 6:00 in the morning, and ending at sunset, about 6:00 in the evening. Therefore, the third hour was about 9:00 in the morning when the man went out and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He offered them work in his vineyard and stated he would pay them whatever amount was fair and equitable for their work. They apparently agreed and went to the vineyard to work.
(5) "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hours, and did likewise."
The man went out the sixth hour, about noon, and again about 3:00 in the afternoon, gathering workers and telling them he would pay them fairly for their work.
(6) "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'"
As late as the eleventh hour, an hour before sunset, the landowner went out and found men standing idle. He asked them why they had stood idle all day. They couldn't have been in that particular place all day, or else he would have previously hired them. They hadn't been in the proper place at the proper time to be hired, but it seemed they were now willing to work, being in the place in the marketplace where workers were usually hired.
(7) "They said to him, 'Because no man has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right, you will receive.'"
They told the man that no one had hired them, and he told them they could go into his vineyard and work, and they would receive fair pay for their work.
(8) "So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their hire, beginning with the last to the first.'"
When evening came and time to pay the workers, the landowner told his steward to call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last hired to the first.
(9) "And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius."
The landowner had only agreed to give these last men hired what was right, and he gave them a denarius, the same amount that was agreed upon by the first who were hired.
(10) "But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received each a denarius."
It is presumed that the steward went through all the laborers, having started with the last hired at the eleventh hour, then to those hired at the ninth hour, then the sixth, the third, and finally came to the first hired, who believed they would receive more because they had worked longer than those hired during the day. However, they, too, received a denarius.
(11) "And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, (12) Saying, 'These last have worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.'"
Because they had expected more for doing more hours' work, those first hired complained about or perhaps even to the landowner because they had received the same amount as those who worked only an hour, when they had worked the entire day in the heat.
(13) "But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I do you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?'"
The landowner answered one of them who grumbled that he had not done them any wrong. They had agreed to one denarius for a day's work, and that is what they had received.
(14) "'Take what is yours and go your way; I will give to these last even as to you.'"
The landowner told the grumbler to take what he earned and go his own way. He, the landowner, would give the last hired the same as the first hired, as he wished.
(15) "'Is it not lawful for me to do as I will with my own? Is your eye evil because I am good?'"
The landowner went on to ask whether or not it was lawful for him to do with his own money and vineyard as he wished. After all, they who murmured could have said no to the first proposition, but the owner offered one denarius for a day's work in his vineyard, and they had agreed. He went on to ask if they were envious and selfish because he had chosen to be gracious and good to others.
Of course, this is an illustration of the kingdom of heaven, as Jesus had said when He first started the parable. He offered His gift of salvation and everlasting life to all those who chose to accept it and followed Him. Those who were saved at the eleventh hour, meaning perhaps the Gentiles who were offered the gift long after the Jews, or meaning a person who was saved at the end of his life, receive the same gift of salvation. Just like the brother of the prodigal son who was jealous of all his formerly absent brother received, those who have been with Jesus all along have enjoyed the benefits of His grace and mercy and guidance all along. We must remember what it was like to be lost and be grateful that we were found so early, and be only glad for those finally found at the end.
(16) "So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen."
Jesus went on to end His parable with this saying that the last would be first and the first would be last. Rather than a promise that those who were saved last would be first in the kingdom of heaven, although they might be, as it is certainly up to the Owner of the kingdom to do as He wishes, I think of it more like it might be that they will be first, so no one called first should expect more just because he was called first. In this case, it might be true that Jesus said this because He knew the Jews who were called first would reject Him, and the Gentiles called last would become first. Whatever was exactly meant, we must be cognizant of the fact that we must never be prideful or boastful because we think we are the chosen ones just because we might have come to salvation first, or before someone else. Jesus then added that many are called, but few are chosen. Many are told the Gospel and offered salvation through Christ, but few accept it and are the chosen elect of Christ. As far as how this related to the parable, as those who did not come at the invitation of the householder to work in the vineyard did not receive the denarius, so those who do not obey the call of the Gospel and believe in Christ Jesus, shall not inherit eternal life.
(17) And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the way, and said to them, (18) "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death. (19) And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day He shall rise again."
As they were on their way to Jerusalem, Jesus took His disciples aside and foretold to them what was to happen to Him. The way Luke related it in his gospel account, Jesus explained that all the things written by the prophets relating to His death would come to pass. This was the third time Jesus had told His disciples about His upcoming suffering and death. He told them He would be delivered to the chief priests and scribes and they would condemn Him to death. He would then be delivered to the Gentiles, the Roman authorities, to be mocked and scourged by the Roman soldiers, and eventually crucified. Jesus went on to say that on the third day after His death, He would rise again.
(20) Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping Him, and desiring a certain thing of Him.
After that, the mother of Zebedee's children came to Jesus with her sons. We may assume these sons were James and John; actually the account in Mark does name them. Scholars agree that the wife of Zebedee was Salome. Interestingly, she is not here called the wife of Zebedee, but the mother of Zebedee's children. It can be assumed either Zebedee was dead or was not a follower of Christ, as Salome most certainly was, as she is named elsewhere in the company of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus when they witnessed Jesus's crucifixion, and again when they visited Jesus's sepulchre. At this time, she came worshipping Jesus with her sons, and apparently was desiring something of Him.
(21) And He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to Him, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."
Jesus asked the mother of James and John what she wanted, to which she replied that He grant her sons seats at His throne in His kingdom, one on the right and one on the left. On one hand, this seems so presumptuous, but we find in Jesus's answer that she and her sons were expecting a worldly kingdom on earth, so perhaps the request was not as audacious as it first seemed.
(22) But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able."
Jesus told the mother of Zebedee's children that she did not know what it was she asked. Then apparently his questions went to James and John when He asked if they were able to drink of the cup He would drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism He was to be baptized with, of course, referring to His coming reproaches, suffering, and death on the cross--a bitter cup of vengeance. James and John foolishly answered that they were able, having no idea what was to come. However, they felt themselves willing to do whatever it took within their imaginations.
(23) And He said to them, "You 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 for whom it is prepared by My Father."
Actually, Jesus said they would drink from His cup and be baptized as He, meaning they would suffer persecution, albeit not in the same way as Jesus would. However, He said that positions in His Father's heavenly kingdom were not His to give, at least not in His present human state at that present time in a temporal worldly kingdom as the brothers imagined, but those positions were reserved only to those who should be entitled to them according to the purpose of His Father. Christ would give rewards to His followers in heaven, but not by any special favor, but only as provided from the foundation of the world by God the Father (Matthew 25:34).
(24) And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers.
When the other ten disciples heard what was being requested by the two brothers, they were offended at their desire to be exalted above the others.
(25) But Jesus called them and said, "You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they who are great exercise authority over them. (26) But it shall not be so among you, but whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; (27) And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."
Jesus called the disciples to Him and explained that the kingdom of heaven was not like that of the Gentiles. The disciples were imagining that those with higher positions would exercise authority over the others. However, Jesus said it was not like that at all, but whoever was great in the kingdom was to minister to others. Whoever had the chief position in the kingdom of the Messiah was to be servant of all, as Mark stated in his account.
(28) "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus went on to say that it was as He had come, not in pomp and circumstance to be served by an entourage, but to serve others, and to give His life as a ransom price paid for the redemption of the lost captives.
(29) And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. (30) And behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
When Jesus and the disciples had departed from Jericho, a great multitude of people followed Him. There were two blind men sitting by the road, and when they heard Jesus had passed by, they cried out to Him to have mercy on them, and they called Him the Son of David.
(31) And the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace, but they cried the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
The multitude following Jesus rebuked the two blind men, telling them to be quiet, but they cried all the more for Jesus, whom they acknowledged was the Son of David, to have mercy on them.
(32) And Jesus stood still and called them and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
Jesus stopped and called out to the blind men, asking what they wanted Him to do for them. Jesus surely knew what it was that they wanted, but by putting the question to them, it brought the attention of the multitude to the fact that Jesus had the power and was willing to do what they asked, and prepared them for the miracle they were about to witness.
(33) They said to Him, "That our eyes may be opened."
The blind men indeed asked Jesus that their eyes might be opened.
(34) So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
Jesus had compassion on the blind men and merely touched their eyes, and immediately they were able to see, and they followed Him along with the multitude.
In this chapter, we learned important features of the kingdom of heaven. First, it is not so much the time that we serve Christ as it is the manner in which we serve Him that will entitle us to high rewards in heaven. Some may be in the church many years yet accomplish little. In a few years, others may be more distinguished in the success of their labors and in their rewards. Secondly, being chief in heaven is not like being the chief on an earthly throne; the chief followers of Christ are those who serve others, those who are willing to stoop the lowest to aid their fellow man and to honor God; those have the most genuine piety. Christ was the very epitome of giving and serving and loving, and the chapter ended with His loving and compassionate gesture in healing the blind men.
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