1 “ For the holy nation of heaven is like the owner of a grape-field. He went out early in the morning to hire workmen to work in his grape-field.

“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.

2 H e promised to give them a day’s pay and then sent them to his grape-field.

When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 L ater in the morning he went to the center of the town where people gather. He saw men standing there doing nothing.

He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 H e said to them, ‘You go to my grape-field and work also. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’ And they went.

He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.

5 A gain he went out about noon and at three o’clock and did the same thing.

Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 A bout five o’clock he went out and still found others doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day and do nothing?’

About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’

7 T hey said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said, ‘Go to my grape-field and work. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’

“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.’

8 “ When evening came, the owner of the grape-field said to the boss of the workmen, ‘Call the workmen. Give them their pay. Start with the last ones hired and go on to the first ones hired.’

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.’

9 T he workmen who had been hired at five o’clock came up. Each one of them got a day’s pay for his work.

“When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

10 W hen the workmen who had been hired the first thing in the morning came, they thought they would get more. But each one got a day’s pay.

When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

11 A fter they received it, they talked against the owner.

When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

12 T hey said, ‘The last workmen hired have only worked one hour. You have given to them the same as to us. We have worked hard through the heat of the day.’

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!’

13 B ut he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me when I promised to pay you a day’s pay?

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

14 T ake your pay and go. I want to give the last ones hired the same as I have given you.

Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

15 D o I not have the right to do what I want to do with my own money? Does your eye make you want more because I am good?’

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?’

16 S o those who are last will be first and the first will be last.” Jesus Tells of His Death the Third Time

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

17 A s Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He talked also to the twelve followers by the side of the road. He said,

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

18 “ Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the religious leaders and to the teachers of the Law. They will say that He must be put to death.

“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,

19 T hey will hand Him over to the people who do not know God. They will make fun of Him and will beat Him. They will nail Him to a cross. Three days later He will be raised to life.” The Mother of James and John Asks Jesus Something Hard

and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”

20 T he mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.

21 H e said to her, “What do you want?” She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.”

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.”

22 J esus said to her, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take? (Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?)” They said, “Yes, we are able.”

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.”

23 H e said to them, “You will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are not Mine to give. Whoever My Father says will have those places.”

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.”

24 T he other ten followers heard this. They were angry with the two brothers.

When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25 J esus called them to Him and said, “You know how the kings of the nations show their power to the people. Important leaders use their power over the people.

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.

26 I t must not be that way with you. But whoever wants to be great among you, let him care for you.

It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

27 W hoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant.

Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,

28 F or the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and made free from the punishment of sin.” The Healing of the Blind Men

even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

29 A s they went away from the city of Jericho, many people followed Him.

As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

30 T wo blind men were sitting by the side of the road. They called out when they heard that Jesus was going by. They said, “Lord, take pity on us, Son of David!”

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!”

31 M any people spoke sharp words to them. They told the blind men not to call out. But they called all the more, “Lord! Take pity on us, Son of David!”

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!”

32 J esus stopped and called them. He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 T he blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, we want our eyes opened!”

They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”

34 J esus had loving-pity on them and put His hands on their eyes. At once they could see, and they followed Jesus.

Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.