Matthew 20 explained: Generous Pay and Upside Down Greatness

Workers hired all day (vv. 1-7)

A denarius was a normal day's wage, and the working day ran roughly from six in the morning to six at night. The owner keeps hiring right up to the last hour, even taking on men no one else had hired.

Same pay for everyone (vv. 8-16)

Workers were paid each evening, as Jewish law required, and the owner gives the one hour workers a full day's pay while the early workers get exactly what they agreed to. Many read this as a reply to Peter's question about rewards at the end of chapter 19, showing that God gives out of generosity rather than by keeping score.

Jesus foretells his death (vv. 17-19)

For the third time, Jesus tells his closest followers that the religious leaders in Jerusalem will condemn him and hand him to the Romans to be crucified. He adds that he will be raised to life on the third day.

A mother's request (vv. 20-23)

The mother of James and John asks for her sons to have the two most honored seats beside Jesus when he rules. Jesus speaks of a "cup" he must drink, an old image for suffering, and says they will share it, but the seats of honor are not his to hand out.

Greatness means serving (vv. 24-28)

Jesus contrasts rulers who dominate people with his followers, who become great by serving. A ransom was the price paid to free a captive or slave, and Christians read this verse as Jesus describing his coming death as that price.

Two blind men healed (vv. 29-34)

Near Jericho, two blind men call Jesus "Son of David," a title for the promised king from David's family line, and keep shouting when the crowd tells them to be quiet. Jesus stops, asks what they want, gives them their sight, and they follow him.

Key verse: Matthew 20:16

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the single equal wage in the vineyard story stands for salvation itself, given equally to all, or whether the story still leaves room for different rewards based on faithfulness.

Something to think about

When someone receives the same good thing you worked much harder for, what does your first reaction suggest about how you think fairness should work?