Matthew Chapter 20
The parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The ambition of the two sons of Zebedee. Christ gives sight to two blind men.
20:1. The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
20:2. And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
20:3. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle.
20:4. And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.
20:5. And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.
20:6. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?
20:7. They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go ye also into my vineyard.
20:8. And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.
20:9. When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
20:10. But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: And they also received every man a penny.
20:11. And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,
20:12. Saying: These last have worked but one hour. and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.
20:13. But he answering said to one of them: friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?
20:14. Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.
20:15. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thy eye evil, because I am good?
What I will. . .Viz., with my own, and in matters that depend on my own bounty.
20:16. So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.
20:17. And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart and said to them:
20:18. Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes: and they shall condemn him to death.
20:19. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified: and the third day he shall rise again.
20:20. Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him.
20:21. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom.
20:22. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can.
20:23. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.
20:24. And the ten, hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
20:25. But Jesus called them to him and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and that they that are the greater, exercise power upon them.
20:26. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever is the greater among you, let him be your minister.
20:27. And he that will be first among you shall be your servant.
20:28. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many.
20:29. And when they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
20:30. And behold two blind men sitting by the way side heard that Jesus passed by. And they cried out, saying: O Lord, thou son of David, have mercy on us.
20:31. And the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace. But they cried out the more, saying: O Lord, thou son of David, have mercy on us.
20:32. And Jesus stood and called them and said: What will ye that I do to you?
20:33. They say to him: Lord, that our eyes be opened.
20:34. And Jesus having compassion on them, touched their eyes. And immediately they saw and followed him.