Chapter 20

   'For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,  

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   and having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard.  

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   About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the market-place.  

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   To these also he said, ''You also, go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'  

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   'So they went. Again about twelve, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same.  

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   And going out about five o'clock he found others loitering, and he asked them, ''Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?'  

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   ''Because no one has hired us,' they replied. ''You also, go into the vineyard,' he said.  

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   'When evening came, the master said to his steward, ''Call the men and pay them their wages. Begin with the last set and finish with the first.'  

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   'When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received a shilling apiece;  

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   and when the first came, they expected to get more, but they also each got the shilling.  

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   So when they had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying,  

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   ''These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.'  

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   ''My friend,' he answered to one of them, 'I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling?  

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   Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give you.  

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   Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am generous?'  

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   'So the last shall be first, and the first last.'  

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   Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,  

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   'We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and Scribes. They will condemn Him to death,  

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   and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life.'  

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   Then the mother of the sons of Zabdi came to Him with her sons, and knelt before Him to make a request of Him.  

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   'What is it you desire?' He asked. 'Command,' she replied, 'that these my two sons may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your Kingdom.'  

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   'None of you know what you are asking for,' said Jesus; 'can you drink out of the cup from which I am about to drink?' 'We can,' they replied.  

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   'You shall drink out of my cup,' He said, 'but a seat at my right hand or at my left it is not for me to allot, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.'  

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   The other ten heard of this, and their indignation was aroused against the two brothers.  

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   But Jesus called them to Him, and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  

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   Not so shall it be among you; but whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant,  

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   and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant;  

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   just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as the redemption-price for many.'  

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   As they were leaving Jericho, an immense crowd following Him,  

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   two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried aloud, 'Sir, Son of David, pity us.'  

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   The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder. 'O Sir, Son of David, pity us,' they said.  

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   So Jesus stood still and called to them. 'What shall I do for you?' He asked.  

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   'Sir, let our eyes be opened,' they replied.  

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   Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.  

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