20:1ffJesus further clarified the membership rules of the Kingdom of Heaven: Entrance is by God's grace alone. In this parable, God is the landowner and believers are the workers. This parable speaks especially to those who feel superior because of heritage or position, to those who feel superior because they have spent so much time with Christ, and to new believers as reassurance of God’s grace.
Life Application Study BibleMatthewChapter 20
Matthew 20
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1584, 1585, 1586
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20Matthew 20
1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay the normal daily wage* and sent them out to work. 3“At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5So they went to work in the vineyard. Atnoon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing. 6“ At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven't you been working today?” 7“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’. “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ 8“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 13“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. ‘SIs it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Jesus Predicts His Death the Third Time (177/Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34) 17As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18“Listen,” he said, “we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man* will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 8Then they will hand him over to the Romans* to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” 19:28a Or in the regeneration. 19:28b “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. 19:30 Greek But many who are first will be last: and the last, first. 20:2 Greek a denarius, the payment for a full day’s labor; similarly in 20:9, 10, 13. 20:18 “Son of Man’ is a title Jesus used for himself. 20:19 Greek the Gentiles, Jesus Teaches about Serving Others (178/Mark 10:35-45) 20Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” 23Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” 24When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25But Jesus called them together and said, “ You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Heals Two Blind Beggars (179/Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43) 29As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. 2°Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “LORD, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31“Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “LORD, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33“LORD,” they said, “we want to see!” 34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey
(183/Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-1 9)
Life Application Notes 14 notes
20:15This parable is not about rewards but about salvation. It is a strong teaching about grace, God’s generosity. We shouldn't begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life, because, in reality, no one deserves eternal life. Many people we don’t expect to see in the Kingdom will be there. The criminal who repented as he was dying (Luke 23:40-43) will be there along with people who have believed and served God for many years. Do you resent God’s gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast, and the sinners who have turned to him for forgiveness? Have you ever been jealous of what God has given to another person? Instead, focus on God's gracious benefits to you, and be thankful for what you have.
20:17-19Jesus predicted his death and resurrection for the third time (see 16:21 and 17:22, 23 for the first two times). But the disciples still didn't accept and believe what he meant. They continued to argue over their positions in Christ’s Kingdom (20:20-28).
20:20The mother of James and John came to Jesus and “knelt respectfully to ask a favor.” She gave Jesus worship, but her real motive was to get something from him. Too often this happens in our churches and in our {ife. We play religious games, expecting God to give us something in return. True worship, however, adores and praises Christ for who he is and for what he has done.
20:20The mother of James and John asked Jesus to give her sons special positions in his Kingdom. Parents naturally want to see their children promoted and honored, but this desire is dangerous if it causes them to stand in the way of God’s specific will for their children. God may have different work in mind for them—perhaps not as glamorous but just as important. Thus, parents’ desires for their children’s advancement must be held in check as they pray that God’s will be done in their children's lives.
20:20According to 27:56, the mother of James and John was at the cross when Jesus was crucified. Some have suggested that she was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. A close family relationship may have prompted her to make this request for her sons.
20:22James, John, and their mother failed to grasp Jesus’ previous teachings on rewards (19:16-30) and eternal life (20:1-16). They failed to understand the suffering they must face before living in the glory of God’s Kingdom. The “cup” was the suffering and crucifixion that Christ faced. Both James and John would also face great suffering. James would be put to death for his faith, and John would be exiled.
20:23Jesus was showing that he was under the authority of the Father, who alone makes the decisions about leadership in heaven. Such rewards are not granted as favors. They are for those who have maintained their commitment to Jesus in spite of severe trials.
20:24The other disciples were upset with James and John for trying to grab the top positions. A/ the disciples wanted to be the greatest (18:1), but Jesus taught them that the greatest person in Gad’s Kingdom is the servant of all. Authority is given, not for self-importance, ambition, or respect, but for useful service to God and his creation.
20:27Jesus described leadership from a new perspective. Instead of using people, we are to serve them. Jesus’ mission was to serve others and to give his life away. A real leader has a servant's heart. Servant leaders appreciate others’ worth and realize that they're not above any job. If you see something that needs to be done, don’t wait to be asked. Take the initiative and do it like a faithful servant.
20:28A “ransom” was the price paid to release a slave from bondage. Jesus often told his disciples that he must die, but here he totd them why—to redeem all people from the bondage of sin and death. The disciples thought that as long as Jesus was alive, he could save them. But Jesus revealed that only his death would save them and the world.
20:29-34Matthew records that there were two blind men, while Mark and Luke mention only one. This is probably the same event, but Mark and Luke singled out the more vocal of the two men.
20:30The blind men called Jesus “Son of David” because the Jews knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David (see Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5, 6). These blind beggars could see that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, while the religious leaders who witnessed Jesus’ miracles were blind to his identity, refusing to open their eyes to the truth. Seeing with your eyes doesn’t guarantee seeing with your heart.
20:32,33Although Jesus was concerned about the coming events in Jerusalem, he demonstrated what he had just told the disciples about service (20:28) by stopping to care for the blind men.
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PREPARATION FOR THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY On their way from Jericho, Jesus and the disciples neared Bethphage, on the slope of the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem. Two disciples went into the village, as Jesus told them, to bring back a donkey and its colt. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt, an unmistakable sign of his kingship.