Matthew · Revised Version with Apocrypha
Matthew 20 Revised Version with Apocrypha
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
RV Revised Version with Apocrypha
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
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.
1 Ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ, ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωΐ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
2 καὶ συμφωνήσας μετὰ τῶν ἐργατῶν ἐκ δηναρίου τὴν ἡμέραν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
3 καὶ ἐξελθὼν περὶ τρίτην ὥραν εἶδεν ἄλλους ἑστῶτας ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἀργούς,
4 and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
4 He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.
4 καὶ ἐκείνοις εἶπεν· ὑπάγετε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον δώσω ὑμῖν.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
5 οἱ δὲ ἀπῆλθον. πάλιν ἐξελθὼν περὶ ἕκτην καὶ ἐνάτην ὥραν ἐποίησεν ὡσαύτως.
6 And about the eleventh [hour ]he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
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?’
6 περὶ δὲ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἐξελθὼν εὗρεν ἄλλους ἑστῶτας ἀργούς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· τί ὧδε ἑστήκατε ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀργοί;
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.
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.’
7 λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἡμᾶς ἐμισθώσατο. λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὑπάγετε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον λήψεσθε.
8 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
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.’
8 ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης λέγει ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος τῷ ἐπιτρόπῳ αὐτοῦ· κάλεσον τοὺς ἐργάτας καὶ ἀπόδος αὐτοῖς τὸν μισθόν, ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων ἕως τῶν πρώτων.
9 And when they came that [were hired ]about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
9 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
9 καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἔλαβον ἀνὰ δηνάριον.
10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
10 ἐλθόντες δὲ οἱ πρῶτοι ἐνόμισαν ὅτι πλείονα λήψονται, καὶ ἔλαβον καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀνὰ δηνάριον.
11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,
11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
11 λαβόντες δὲ ἐγόγγυζον κατὰ τοῦ οἰκοδεσπότου
12 saying, These last have spent [but ]one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
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!’
12 λέγοντες ὅτι οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν, καὶ ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτοὺς ἐποίησας τοῖς βαστάσασι τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα.
13 But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?
13 ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν ἑνὶ αὐτῶν· ἑταῖρε, οὐκ ἀδικῶ σε· οὐχὶ δηναρίου συνεφώνησάς μοι;
14 Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.
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.
14 ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε· θέλω δὲ τούτῳ τῷ ἐσχάτῳ δοῦναι ὡς καὶ σοί·
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?
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?’
15 ἢ οὐκ ἔξεστί μοι ποιῆσαι ὃ θέλω ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς; εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου πονηρός ἐστιν ὅτι ἐγὼ ἀγαθός εἰμι;
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
16 Οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι· πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσι κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and in the way he said unto them,
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
17 Καὶ ἀναβαίνων ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα παρέλαβε τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητὰς κατ᾽ ἰδίαν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,
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,
18 ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ,
19 and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.
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.”
19 καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εἰς τὸ ἐμπαῖξαι καὶ μαστιγῶσαι καὶ σταυρῶσαι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται.
20 Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping [him], and asking a certain thing of him.
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
20 Τότε προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἡ μήτηρ τῶν υἱῶν Ζεβεδαίου μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῆς προσκυνοῦσα καὶ αἰτοῦσά τι παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.
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.”
21 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· τί θέλεις; λέγει αὐτῷ· εἰπὲ ἵνα καθίσωσιν οὗτοι οἱ δύο υἱοί μου εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.
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.”
22 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ μέλλω πίνειν, ἢ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· δυνάμεθα.
23 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on [my ]left hand, is not mine to give, but [it is for them ]for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.
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.”
23 καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· τὸ μὲν ποτήριόν μου πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων μου οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾽ οἷς ἡτοίμασται [ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρός μου].
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.
24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
24 καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἠγανάκτησαν περὶ τῶν δύο ἀδελφῶν.
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
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.
25 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς εἶπεν· οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἄρχοντες τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν.
26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
26 οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν μέγας γενέσθαι, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος,
27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:
27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
27 καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος, ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος·
28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
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.”
28 ὥσπερ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.
29 And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
29 Καὶ ἐκπορευομένων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Ἱεριχὼ ἠκολούθησεν αὐτῷ ὄχλος πολύς.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.
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!”
30 καὶ ἰδοὺ δύο τυφλοὶ καθήμενοι παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Ἰησοῦς παράγει, ἔκραξαν λέγοντες· ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, υἱὸς Δαυΐδ.
31 And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou 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!”
31 ὁ δὲ ὄχλος ἐπετίμησεν αὐτοῖς ἵνα σιωπήσωσιν· οἱ δὲ μεῖζον ἔκραζον λέγοντες· ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, υἱὸς Δαυΐδ.
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?
32 Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
32 καὶ στὰς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐφώνησεν αὐτοὺς καὶ εἶπε· τί θέλετε ποιήσω ὑμῖν;
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
33 λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, ἵνα ἀνοιχθῶσιν ἡμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί.
34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes: and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.
34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
34 σπλαγχνισθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέβλεψαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί, καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Zebedee
A fisherman in whose boat his sons James and John were mending nets when Jesus called them; they left him in the boat with the hired men.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 4:21; Matthew 20:20; Mark 1:20
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 13:47; Matthew 13:24; 1 Corinthians 15:58; John 15:1; Hebrews 13:21
- 2 Exodus 19:5–6; Matthew 22:19; Luke 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15; Matthew 18:28
- 3 1 Timothy 5:13; Proverbs 19:15; Matthew 20:6–7; Mark 15:25; Acts 17:17–21
- 4 1 Peter 4:2–3; Romans 6:16–22; Luke 19:7–10; Matthew 9:9; Titus 3:8
- 5 Joshua 24:2–3; Mark 15:33–34; Hebrews 11:24–26; Acts 3:1; Luke 23:44–46
- 6 John 9:4; Acts 17:21; Hebrews 6:12; Proverbs 19:15; Luke 23:40–43
- 7 Ephesians 2:11–12; Hebrews 6:10; Acts 17:30–31; Acts 4:16; Matthew 22:9–10
- 8 Deuteronomy 24:15; 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 2:6–10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Titus 1:7
- 9 Romans 4:3–6; Ephesians 2:8–10; Ephesians 1:6–8; Matthew 20:2; Luke 23:40–43
- 11 Luke 19:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Jude 16; Acts 11:2–3; Acts 22:21–22
- 12 Romans 11:5–6; 2 Corinthians 11:23–28; Luke 14:10–11; 1 Corinthians 4:11; Luke 18:11–12
- 13 Matthew 26:50; Matthew 22:12; Romans 9:14–15; Job 34:8–12; Job 35:2
- 14 John 17:2; Luke 15:31; Ezekiel 29:18–20; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:6
- 15 Romans 9:15–24; Deuteronomy 15:9; Mark 7:22; Exodus 33:19; Matthew 6:23
- 16 Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31; Matthew 22:14; Luke 13:28–30; Luke 15:7
- 17 Mark 10:32–34; Luke 18:31–34; Matthew 13:11; John 15:15; Genesis 18:17
- 18 Matthew 16:21; Acts 2:23; Matthew 27:1; Matthew 26:2; Matthew 17:22–23
- 19 Matthew 16:21; Mark 15:16–20; 1 Corinthians 15:3–7; Acts 2:23; Isaiah 53:3
- 20 Mark 10:35–45; Matthew 4:21; Matthew 8:2; Matthew 27:56; Matthew 2:11
- 21 Matthew 19:28; Mark 10:36–37; Psalm 110:1; Esther 5:3; 1 Kings 3:5
- 22 Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; John 18:11
- 23 Revelation 1:9; Mark 10:40; Matthew 25:34; Acts 12:2; 2 Timothy 2:11–12
- 24 James 4:5–6; 1 Peter 5:5; Luke 22:23–25; Philippians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 13:4
- 25 Luke 22:25–27; Matthew 20:25–28; John 13:12–17; Mark 10:42; Matthew 18:3–4
- 26 Mark 10:43; Mark 9:35; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 5:3; Luke 18:14
- 27 Luke 22:26; Mark 9:33–35; Matthew 18:4; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 1:14
- 28 Luke 22:27; Hebrews 9:28; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 3:18; Philippians 2:4–8
- 29 Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43; Matthew 9:27–31
- 30 Mark 10:46; Matthew 12:22–23; Matthew 22:42; Matthew 21:9; Isaiah 42:16
- 31 Matthew 19:13; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1–8; Luke 11:8–10
- 32 Ezekiel 36:37; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 20:21; Acts 10:29
- 33 Psalm 119:18; Ephesians 1:17–19
- 34 Matthew 9:29; Psalm 145:8; Hebrews 4:15–16; Luke 22:51; Luke 7:13
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Ye have heard out of the Holy Gospel a parable well suited to the present season, concerning the labourers in the vineyard. For now is the time of the material vintage. Now there is also a spiritual vintage, wherein God rejoiceth in the fruit of His vineyard. For we cultivate God, and God cultivateth us.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
He goeth not up at once to Jerusalem when He is come out of Galilee, but having first wrought miracles, and having stopped the mouths of Pharisees, and having discoursed with His disciples of renouncing possessions: for, "if thou wilt be perfect," saith He, "sell that thou hast:" and of virginity, "He that is able to receive, let him receive …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
They maintain also, that these thirty Æons are most plainly indicated in the parable of the labourers sent into the vineyard.
Of these two, the two blind men also are a figure, who sat by the way side, to whom the Lord gave sight. And if ye pay attention to the Scriptures, ye will find the two Churches, which are not two but One, figured out in many places.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
… of the heavens, that whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven." How then is it not "His to give to sit on His right hand, and on His left," when He saith, "I will give thee"?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)