1For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2And when he had agreed to pay them a denarius for a day’s work, he sent them into his vineyard.
3And he went out about the third hour (nine o’clock), and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4And said to them; “You go also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, I will pay you”. And off they went.
5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour (noon and 3 PM), and told them the same.
6And about the eleventh hour (5 PM) he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, “Why do you stand here idle all day?”
7They replied, “Because no one has hired us”. He said to them, “You go also into my vineyard; and you shall receive whatever pay is right.”
8So when evening had come, the lord (owner) of the vineyard said to his steward, “Call the laborers, and give them their hire, starting from the last hired unto the first”.
9And when they that were hired about the eleventh hour came, each man received a denarius.
10But when those that were first hired came, they expected that they would receive more; but they, like everyone else, each received a denarius.
11And when they had received it, they murmured (complained) against the householder,
12Saying, “These last hired have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have endured the burden and heat of the day.”
13But he answered one of them, and said, “Friend, I have done you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14Take what is yours (your pay), and go your way; I will give to those hired last the same as you.
15Is it against the law for me to do what I will with my own money? Is your eye evil (envious), because I am good (generous)?”
16So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen.”
17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside along the way, and said to them,
18“We are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed and handed over to the chief priests and to the scribes (teachers of the law), and they shall condemn Him to death,
19And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, scourge, and to crucify Him; and on the third day He shall rise again.”
20Then the mother of Zebedee's children came to Him with her sons, and knelt before Him, and respectfully asked a certain favor of Him.
21And He asked her, “What is it that you want?” She said to Him, “Grant that these, my two sons, may sit, the one on Your right hand, and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” And they (the 2 sons) said to Him, “We are able”.
23And He said to them, “You 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 by My Father.”
24And when the other ten heard it, they were indignant toward the two brothers.
25Then Jesus called them to Him, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise dominion (lord it) over them, and they that can, exercise authority upon them.
26But it shall not be like that among you; but whoever would be great among you, let him be your servant;
27And whoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant (slave);
28Just as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
29And as they left from Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.
30And two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David”.
31And the crowd rebuked them, and told them to be quite; but they shouted out all the louder, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David”.
32And Jesus stopped, and called them to Him, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
33They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened (that we may receive our sight)”.
34So Jesus had compassion on them, and He touched their eyes; and immediately they received their sight, and they followed Him. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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