Matthew 20: The Last Shall Be First
Jesus teaches God's generous grace and models greatness as serving and giving his life.
Matthew 20 (WEB)
1 “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 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denariusa day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 He went out about the third hour,and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
4 To them he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour,and did likewise.
6 About the eleventh hourhe went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’
7 “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 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 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
12 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 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?
14 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 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 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18 “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 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 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21 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 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 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 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25 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 It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant.
27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
28 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 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 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 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 Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
Matthew 20 (KJV)
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle 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.
6 And about the eleventh 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.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, 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.
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.
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?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
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 betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise 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 Father.
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 great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 And, behold, two blind 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 compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Matthew 20 (ASV)
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
4 and to them he said, 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 the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he 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.
8 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.
10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.
11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,
12 saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
13 But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?
14 Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them,
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,
19 and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.
20 Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.
23 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:
28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
29 And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.
31 And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.
Summary
Jesus likens the kingdom to a landowner who hires laborers throughout the day, then pays everyone the same wage, beginning with the last. When the all-day workers grumble, he answers that he has done them no wrong and is free to be generous with what is his; so the last will be first and the first last. As they go up to Jerusalem, Jesus foretells his betrayal, condemnation, mockery, crucifixion, and rising on the third day. The mother of James and John asks for the highest places in his kingdom, but Jesus teaches that greatness means serving, for the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Outside Jericho, he has compassion on two blind men and restores their sight, and they follow him.
Main Characters
- Jesus — Teaches the generosity of grace, foretells his death and rising, and gives his life as a ransom for many.
- The vineyard owner — Hires laborers all day and pays each the same, defending his right to be generous to the last.
- The mother of Zebedee's sons — Kneels to ask that her two sons sit at Jesus' right and left in his kingdom.
- James and John — The sons of Zebedee, whose request for honor prompts Jesus' teaching on servant greatness.
- The two blind men — Cry to the Son of David for mercy outside Jericho; Jesus heals them and they follow him.
Key Verse
Matthew 20:28 (WEB)
even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Lessons Learned
- God's grace is generous and free; he is not unjust to give the undeserving the same gift.
- Comparison and grumbling rob us of joy in the goodness God shows to others.
- True greatness in Christ's kingdom is found in serving, not in being served.
- Jesus gives his life as a ransom for many, the heart of the gospel he came to accomplish.
- God's grace is gift, not wages earned. The owner gave the last-hired the same denarius, asking, 'Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own?' (Matthew 20:15, WEB).
- Grace overturns our sense of rank. So the last will be first, and the first last (Matthew 20:16, WEB).
- Jesus walks knowingly toward the cross. He foretold that he would be condemned, crucified, 'and the third day he will be raised up' (Matthew 20:19, WEB).
- Greatness is measured by service. Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant (Matthew 20:26, WEB).
- Christ's life is the ransom for our redemption. The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28, WEB).
- Jesus answers the humble cry for mercy. Moved with compassion, he touched their eyes, and they received their sight and followed him (Matthew 20:34, WEB).
- Why do the all-day workers grumble, and how does the owner's reply expose their hearts?
- What does this parable teach about the nature of God's grace toward latecomers?
- How does Jesus respond to the request for the highest seats in his kingdom?
- What does it mean that the Son of Man came 'to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'?
- Where do you find yourself comparing God's blessings on others to your own, and how might grace reshape that?
- They grumble because the last-hired received as much as they did (vv.11-12); the owner shows their problem is not injustice but envy of his generosity, 'Is your eye evil, because I am good?' (v.15).
- Grace gives the same gift of life to those who come late as to those who labored long (vv.9-16); God is generous, not stingy, and no one is shortchanged by his kindness to another.
- Jesus says they do not know what they ask, speaks of the cup he must drink, and teaches that greatness is serving, not ruling over others (vv.22-27).
- Jesus came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom for many (v.28); his death pays the price to set sinners free, and it is the pattern and ground of all Christian service.
- This is a personal application question. Encourage candor without shame; revisit the owner's words in v.15 and help people rejoice in God's goodness to others rather than resent it.