Matthew 20
20"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.G1063G932G3772G2076G3664G444G3617G3748G1831G260G4404G3409G2040G1519G846G2902He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.G1161G4856G3326G2040G1537G1220G2250G649G846G1519G846G2903"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.G2532G1831G4012G5154G5610G1492G243G2476G692G1722G584So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.G2036G2548G5217G5210G2532G1519G290G2532G3739G1437G5600G1342G1325G5213G1161G5655So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing.G3825G1831G4012G1623G2532G1766G5610G4160G56156"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?'G1161G4012G1734G5610G1831G2147G243G2476G692G2532G3004G846G5101G2476G5602G3650G2250G6927"They replied, 'Because no one hired us.' "The landowner told them, 'Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.'G3004G846G3754G3762G3409G2248G3004G846G5217G5210G2532G1519G290G2532G3739G1437G5600G1342G29838"That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.G1161G3798G1096G2962G290G3004G846G2012G2564G2040G2532G591G846G3408G756G575G2078G2193G44139When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage.G2532G2064G4012G1734G5610G2983G303G122010When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage.G1161G4413G2064G3543G3754G2983G4119G2532G2532G2983G846G303G122011When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,G1161G2983G1111G2596G361712'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.'G3754G3004G3778G2078G4160G3391G5610G2532G4160G846G2470G2254G3588G941G922G2532G2742G225013"He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage?G1161G611G1520G846G2036G2083G91G4571G3756G91G4856G3780G4856G3427G122014Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.G142G4674G2532G5217G1161G2309G1325G5129G2078G2532G5613G467115Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'G2228G3756G1832G3427G4160G3739G2309G1722G1699G1487G2076G4675G3788G4190G3754G1473G1510G1816"So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."G3779G2078G2071G4413G2532G4413G2078G1063G4183G1526G2822G1161G3641G158817As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.G2532G2424G305G1519G2414G3880G1427G3101G2596G2398G1722G3598G2532G2036G84618"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.G2400G305G1519G2414G2532G5207G444G3860G749G2532G1122G2532G2632G846G228819Then 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."G2532G3860G846G1484G1519G1702G2532G3146G2532G4717G2532G5154G2250G45020Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.G5119G4334G846G3384G2199G5207G3326G846G5207G4352G2532G154G5100G3844G84621"What 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."G1161G2036G846G5101G2309G3004G846G2036G2443G3778G3450G1417G5207G2523G1520G1537G4675G1188G2532G1520G1537G2176G1722G4675G93222But 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!"G1161G2424G611G2036G1492G3756G5101G154G1410G4095G4221G3739G1473G3195G4095G2532G907G908G3739G1473G907G3004G846G141023Jesus 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."G2532G3004G846G4095G3303G3450G4221G2532G907G908G3739G1473G907G1161G2523G1537G3450G1188G2532G1537G3450G2176G2076G3756G1699G1325G235G3739G2090G5259G3450G396224When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.G2532G1176G191G23G4012G1417G8025But 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.G1161G2424G4341G846G2036G1492G3754G758G1484G2634G846G2532G3173G2715G84626But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,G1161G2071G3756G2071G3779G1722G5213G235G3739G1437G2309G1096G3173G1722G5213G2077G5216G124927and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.G2532G3739G1437G2309G1511G4413G1722G5213G2077G5216G140128For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."G5618G5207G444G2064G3756G1247G235G1247G2532G1325G846G5590G3083G473G418329As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.G2532G846G1607G575G2410G4183G3793G190G84630Two 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!"G2532G2400G1417G5185G2521G3598G3844G191G3754G2424G3855G2896G3004G1653G2248G2962G5207G113831"Be quiet!" the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"G1161G3793G2008G846G2443G4623G1161G2896G3185G3004G1653G2248G2962G5207G113832When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, "What do you want me to do for you?"G2532G2424G2476G5455G846G2532G2036G5101G2309G4160G521333"Lord," they said, "we want to see!"G3004G846G2962G2443G2257G3788G45534Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.G1161G2424G4697G680G846G3788G2532G2112G846G3788G308G2532G190G846
Matthew 21
21As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.G2532G3753G1448G1519G2414G2532G2064G1519G967G4314G3735G1636G5119G649G2424G1417G31012"Go into the village over there," he said. "As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me.G3004G846G4198G1519G2968G561G5216G2532G2112G2147G3688G1210G2532G4454G3326G846G3089G71G34273If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately let you take them."G2532G1437G5100G2036G5100G5213G2046G3754G2962G2192G5532G846G1161G2112G649G8464This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,G1161G3650G5124G1096G2443G4137G3588G4483G1223G4396G30045"Tell the people of Israel, 'Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey's colt.'"G2036G2364G4622G2400G4675G935G2064G4671G4239G2532G1910G1909G3688G2532G4454G5207G52686The two disciples did as Jesus commanded.G1161G3101G4198G2532G4160G2531G2424G4367G8467They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.G71G3688G2532G4454G2532G2007G1883G846G846G2440G2532G1940G1940G1883G8468Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.G1161G4118G3793G4766G1438G2440G1722G3598G1161G243G2875G2798G575G1186G2532G4766G1722G35989Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!"G1161G3793G4254G2532G190G2896G3004G5614G5207G1138G2127G2064G1722G3686G2962G5614G1722G531010The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked.G2532G846G1525G1519G2414G3956G4172G4579G3004G5101G2076G377811And the crowds replied, "It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."G1161G3793G3004G3778G2076G2424G4396G575G3478G105612Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.G2532G2424G1525G1519G2411G2316G2532G1544G3956G4453G2532G59G1722G2411G2532G2690G5132G2855G2532G2515G4453G405813He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!"G2532G3004G846G1125G3450G3624G2564G3624G4335G1161G5210G4160G846G4693G302714The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.G2532G5185G2532G5560G4334G846G1722G2411G2532G2323G84615The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David." But the leaders were indignant.G1161G749G2532G1122G1492G2297G3739G4160G2532G3816G2896G1722G2411G2532G3004G5614G5207G1138G2316They asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, 'You have taught children and infants to give you praise.'G2532G2036G846G191G5101G3778G3004G1161G2424G3004G846G3483G3763G314G3754G1537G4750G3516G2532G2337G2675G13617Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.G2532G2641G846G1831G1854G4172G1519G963G2532G835G156318In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry,G1161G4405G1877G1519G4172G398319and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up.G2532G1492G3391G4808G1909G3598G2064G1909G846G2532G2147G3762G1722G846G1508G5444G3440G2532G3004G846G1096G2590G1096G1537G4675G3371G1519G165G2532G3916G4808G358320The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"G2532G3101G1492G2296G3004G4459G3916G4808G358321Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.G2424G611G1161G2036G846G281G3004G5213G1437G2192G4102G2532G1252G3361G4160G3756G3440G4160G3440G4808G235G2579G2036G5129G3735G142G2532G906G1519G2281G109622You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."G2532G3956G302G3745G154G1722G4335G4100G298323When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, "By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?"G2532G846G2064G1519G2411G749G2532G4245G2992G4334G846G1321G3004G1722G4169G1849G4160G5023G2532G5101G1325G4671G5026G184924"I'll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied.G1161G2424G611G2036G846G2504G2065G5209G1520G3056G3739G1437G2036G3427G2504G2046G5213G1722G4169G1849G4160G502325"Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn't believe John.G908G2491G4159G2258G1537G3772G2228G1537G444G1161G1260G3844G1438G3004G1437G2036G1537G3772G2046G2254G1302G4100G3756G3767G4100G84626But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet."G1161G1437G2036G1537G444G5399G3793G1063G3956G2192G2491G5613G439627So they finally replied, "We don't know." And Jesus responded, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I do these things.G2532G611G2424G2036G3756G1492G2532G846G5346G846G3761G3004G1473G5213G1722G4169G1849G4160G502328"But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'G1161G5101G1380G5213G444G2192G1417G5043G2532G4334G4413G2036G5043G5217G2038G4594G1722G3450G29029The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway.G1161G611G2036G2309G3756G1161G5305G3338G56530Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go.G2532G4334G1208G2036G5615G1161G611G2036G1473G2962G2532G565G375631"Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.G5101G1537G1417G4160G2307G3962G3004G846G4413G2424G3004G846G281G3004G5213G3754G5057G2532G4204G4254G1519G932G2316G4254G520932For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.G1063G2491G2064G4314G5209G1722G3598G1343G2532G4100G846G3756G1161G5057G2532G4204G4100G846G1161G5210G1492G3338G3756G5305G4100G84633"Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.G191G243G3850G2258G444G5100G3617G3748G5452G290G2532G5418G846G4060G2532G3736G3025G1722G846G2532G3618G4444G2532G1554G846G1554G1092G2532G58934At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop.G1161G3753G2540G2590G1448G649G846G1401G4314G1092G2983G2590G84635But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.G2532G1092G2983G846G1401G1194G3739G3303G1161G615G3739G1161G3036G373936So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.G3825G649G243G1401G4119G4413G2532G4160G846G561537"Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'G1161G5305G649G4314G846G846G5207G3004G1788G3450G520738"But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!'G1161G1092G1492G5207G2036G1722G1438G3778G2076G2818G1205G615G846G2532G2722G846G281739So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.G2532G2983G846G1544G1854G290G2532G61540"When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, "what do you think he will do to those farmers?"G3752G2962G3767G290G2064G5101G4160G1565G109241The religious leaders replied, "He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest."G3004G846G2560G622G846G2556G2532G1554G290G243G1092G3748G591G846G2590G1722G846G254042Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see.'G2424G3004G846G314G3763G314G1722G1124G3037G3739G3618G593G3778G1096G1519G2776G1137G3778G3844G2962G1096G2532G2076G2298G1722G2257G378843I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.G1223G5124G3004G5213G3754G932G2316G142G575G5216G2532G1325G1484G4160G2590G84644Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on."G2532G4098G1909G5126G3037G4917G1161G1909G3739G302G4098G3039G846G303945When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.G2532G749G2532G5330G191G846G3850G1097G3754G3004G4012G84646They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.G2532G2212G2902G846G5399G3793G1894G2192G846G5613G4396
Dublin, OH
and sent them out to work.G1161
