- 1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
- 2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
- 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
- 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
- 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
- 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
- 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
- 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
- 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
- 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
- 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
- 12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
- 13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
- 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
- 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
- 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- 17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
- 18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
- 19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall 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.
- 21And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
- 22But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
- 23And he saith unto them, Ye 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 it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
- 24And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
- 25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
- 26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
- 27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
- 28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- 29And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
- 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
- 31And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
- 32And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
- 33They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
- 34So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
KING JAMES VERSION
MATTHEW 20
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Matthew 20 — The vineyard owner’s generosity overturns human rank, and Jesus defines greatness through service and sacrifice.
About this illustration
The vineyard parable is staged as Jesus’ teaching rather than a separate historical event. The single unmarked coin and workers from different shifts emphasize equal generosity without modern wage imagery.
Scripture basis: Matthew 20:1–34King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
6th Century
Papyrus P83: Matthew 20:23–25 in a Greek Witness
Papyrus P83, dated by the CSNTM catalog to the 6th century, physically preserves Matthew 20:23–25 as part of the early manuscript transmission of the New Testament.
Matthew 20:23–25
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Late fifth century AD for Matthew; seventh century AD for the added Gospels
Codex Claromontanus V (VL 12): Old Latin Matthew in a Composite Gospel Book
Vatican Latin 7223 combines a late-fifth-century Old Latin Matthew with seventh-century Vulgate-form Gospels, preserving two textual and codicological stages within one physical book.
Matthew 20:27–30 · Luke 10:41–42 · Luke 11:1–5
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