New Testament Commentary - Matthew 20

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 20 Jesus give the parable of the laborers in the vineyard—He foretells his crucifixion and resurrection—He came to give his life a ransom for many.
Labourers in the Vineyard ~ Parable
1 FOR the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire ^alabourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his ^avineyard.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing ^aidle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
6 And about the ^aeleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They 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.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the ^alabourers, and give them their ^ahire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, 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.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
Last First and First Last The scriptures in various places speaks of the last being first and the first being last. This following verse seems to have less to do with the Parable of the Labourers, though the last labourers may be infered, and more to do with the prior setting forth of the Apostles to be the judges of the ten tribes, for in fact the gathering in of the ten tribes will be last after the gathering in of the Gentiles and the house of Joseph which is scattered among them. Indeed the considered Gospel of Peter which his scribe Mark has prepared places this verse within the conversation speaking to the Apostles about this very thing. (see Matthew 19:27-30; Mark 10:28-31; Luke 18:28-30; 1 Nephi 12:7-10)
16 So the ^alast shall be first, and the first last: for many be ^bcalled, but few chosen^a.	16^a many be called, but few chosen This, as referenced above, may also have to do with the judging and judgment as to the selection of the Lord's servants and workers. Marks gospel places the 'first and last' statement in place in connection with the selection of the twelve and their reward. Thus we might deduce that while the original twelve were called first particularly of the tribe of Judah, others would be called later and receive the same reward for their labors, though this well has a general application beyond the calling of the apostles as servants of the Lord.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
17 ¶ And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be ^abetrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to ^bdeath, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to ^amock, and to scourge, and to ^bcrucify him: and the third day he shall ^crise again.
20 ¶ Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And 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.
22 But 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. 23 And 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 ^aFather.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But 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.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be ^agreat among you, let him be your ^bminister; 27 And whosoever ^awill be chief among you, let him be your ^bservant: 28 Even as the ^aSon of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to ^bgive his life a ^cransom for many. 29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 ¶ And, behold, two ^ablind 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. 31 And 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.
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had ^acompassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received ^bsight, and they followed him.