Matthew 20
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
Matthew chapter 20 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
13 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from 3 Fathers — Saint John Chrysostom, Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid, and Saint Augustine.
Matthew 20
1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a certain landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.Ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ, ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωῒ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
2And having agreed with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.καὶ συμφωνήσας μετὰ τῶν ἐργατῶν ἐκ δηναρίου τὴν ἡμέραν, ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
3And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.καὶ ἐξελθὼν περὶ τρίτην ὥραν, εἶδεν ἄλλους ἑστῶτας ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἀργούς·
4And said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever may be right I will give you.’ So they went.καὶ ἐκείνοις εἶπεν, Ὑπάγετε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον δώσω ὑμῖν.
5Again going out about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise.οἱ δὲ ἀπῆλθον. πάλιν ἐξελθὼν περὶ ἕκτην καὶ ἐνάτην ὥραν, ἐποίησεν ὡσαύτως.
6And about the eleventh hour, going out he found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’περὶ δὲ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἐξελθών, εὗρεν ἄλλους ἑστῶτας ἀργούς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Τί ὧδε ἑστήκατε ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀργοί;
7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you shall receive.’λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἡμᾶς ἐμισθώσατο. λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ὑπάγετε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον λήψεσθε.
8“So when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης λέγει ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος τῷ ἐπιτρόπῳ αὐτοῦ, Κάλεσον τοὺς ἐργάτας, καὶ ἀπόδος αὐτοῖς τὸν μισθόν, ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων ἕως τῶν πρώτων.
9And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἔλαβον ἀνὰ δηνάριον.
10But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they also received each a denarius.ἐλθόντες δὲ οἱ πρῶτοι ἐνόμισαν ὅτι πλείονα λήψονται· καὶ ἔλαβον καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀνὰ δηνάριον.
11And when they had received it, they began grumbling against the landowner,λαβόντες δὲ ἐγόγγυζον κατὰ τοῦ οἰκοδεσπότου,
12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’λέγοντες ὅτι Οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν, καὶ ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτοὺς ἐποίησας, τοῖς βαστάσασι τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα.
13But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν ἑνὶ αὐτῶν, Ἑταῖρε, οὐκ ἀδικῶ σε· οὐχὶ δηναρίου συνεφώνησάς μοι;
14Take what is yours and go. But I want to give to this last man the same as to you.ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε· θέλω δὲ τούτῳ τῷ ἐσχάτῳ δοῦναι ὡς καὶ σοί.
15Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ἢ οὐκ ἔξεστί μοι ποιῆσαι ὃ θέλω ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς; εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου πονηρός ἐστιν, ὅτι ἐγὼ ἀγαθός εἰμι;
16Thus the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”οὕτως ἔσονται οἱ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι, καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι· πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσι κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.
17And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took aside the twelve disciples privately on the road, and He said to them,Καὶ ἀναβαίνων ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα παρέλαβε τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητὰς κατ᾽ ἰδίαν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς,
18“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,Ἰδού, ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ,
19and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He shall rise again.”καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εἰς τὸ ἐμπαῖξαι καὶ μαστιγῶσαι καὶ σταυρῶσαι· καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται.
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, worshiping Him, and asking something from Him.Τότε προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἡ μήτηρ τῶν υἱῶν Ζεβεδαίου μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῆς, προσκυνοῦσα καὶ αἰτοῦσά τι παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
21And He said to her, “What do you desire?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and one on Your left, in Your kingdom.”ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Τί θέλεις; λέγει αὐτῷ, Εἰπὲ ἵνα καθίσωσιν οὗτοι οἱ δύο υἱοί μου, εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου, καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου, ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.
22But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, Οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ μέλλω πίνειν, ἢ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Δυνάμεθα.
23So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Τὸ μὲν ποτήριόν μου πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων μου οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾽ οἷς ἡτοίμασται ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρός μου.
24And when the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἠγανάκτησαν περὶ τῶν δύο ἀδελφῶν.
25But Jesus, having summoned them, said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς εἶπεν, Οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἄρχοντες τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν.
26Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, shall be your servant.οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν· ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν μέγας γενέσθαι ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος·
27And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave;καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος, ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος·
28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”ὥσπερ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.
29Now as they went out from Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.Καὶ ἐκπορευομένων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Ἱεριχώ, ἠκολούθησεν αὐτῷ ὄχλος πολύς.
30And behold, two blind men sitting alongside the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have pity on us, O Lord, Son of David!”καὶ ἰδού, δύο τυφλοὶ καθήμενοι παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Ἰησοῦς παράγει, ἔκραξαν, λέγοντες, Ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, υἱὸς Δαυίδ.
31But the crowd warned them that they should be silent; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have pity on us, O Lord, Son of David!”ὁ δὲ ὄχλος ἐπετίμησεν αὐτοῖς ἵνα σιωπήσωσιν. οἱ δὲ μεῖζον ἔκραζον, λέγοντες, Ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, υἱὸς Δαυίδ.
32And having stood still, Jesus called them, and said, “What do you desire that I should do for you?”καὶ στὰς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐφώνησεν αὐτούς, καὶ εἶπε, Τί θέλετε ποιήσω ὑμῖν;
33They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Κύριε, ἵνα ἀνοιχθῶσιν ἡμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί.
34And Jesus, having compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.σπλαγχνισθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν· καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέβλεψαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί, καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
The Fathers on Matthew 20
Saint John Chrysostom, Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid, and Saint Augustine comment on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Matthew 20:17–19Saint John ChrysostomHe goeth not up at once to Jerusalem when He is come out of Galilee, but having first wrought miracles, and having stopped the mouths of Pharisees, and having discoursed with His disciples of renouncing possessions: for, “if thou wilt be pe
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 20:17–21Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid17-21. And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 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, and shall deliver Him...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 20:18, 28Saint AugustineMatthew continues his narrative in the following terms: “And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief...
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 20:29–30Saint John ChrysostomSee whence He passed unto Jerusalem, and where He abode before this, with regard to which it seems to me especially worthy of inquiry, wherefore He went not away even long before this from thence unto Galilee, but through Samaria. But this
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 20:29–34Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid29-34. And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 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. And the multitude rebuked them, because they...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 20:30, 34Saint AugustineMatthew continues thus: “And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.
Read The Harmony of the Gospels →
On Matthew 20:30Saint AugustineYe know, Holy Brethren, full well as we do, that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Physician of our eternal health; and that to this end He took the weakness of our nature, that our weakness might not last for ever.
Read Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament →
On Matthew 20:1Saint AugustineYe have heard out of the Holy Gospel a parable well suited to the present season, concerning the labourers in the vineyard.
Read Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament →
On Matthew 20:1–7Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid1-7. 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. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 20:24–28Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid24-28. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 20:8–16Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid8-16. 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. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 20:22Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid22. 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. He turns away from the mother and converses with the sons in order to...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 20:23Open Matthew 20 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid23. 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 at My right hand, and at My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared by My Father. "You will bear witness...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →