Matthew · Unlocked Literal Bible
Matthew 20 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
ULB Unlocked Literal Bible
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for 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 After he had agreed with the workers for one denarius 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 He went out again about the third hour and saw other workers standing idle in the marketplace.
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 To them he said, 'You also, go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went to work.
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 hour and again the ninth hour, and did the same.
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 Once more about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all the day long?'
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 said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go 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 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to 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 When the workers who had been hired at the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.
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 When the first workers came, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received one denarius each.
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 When they received their wages, they complained about the landowner.
11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
11 λαβόντες δὲ ἐγόγγυζον κατὰ τοῦ οἰκοδεσπότου
12 They said, 'These last workers have spent only one hour in work, but you have made them equal to us, we who 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 the owner answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for one denarius?
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 what belongs to you and go your way. I choose to give to these last hired workers just the same as to you.
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 Do I not have the right to do as I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
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 will 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 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside, and on the way he said to 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 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes. They will 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 will deliver him to the Gentiles for them to mock, to flog, and to crucify him. But on the third day he will 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 the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons. She bowed down before him and asked for something from 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 Jesus said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to him, “Command that these my two sons may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your 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, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to 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 said to them, “My cup you will indeed drink. But to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by 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 When the other ten disciples heard this, they were very angry with the two brothers.
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 to himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles subjugate them, and their important men 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 But it must not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,
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 whoever wishes to be first among you must 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 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as 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 As they went out from Jericho, a great crowd 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 There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.”
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 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet, but they cried out even more loudly, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.”
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 Then Jesus stood still and called to them and said, “What do you wish me to do for 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 said to 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 Then Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes. Immediately 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)