Matthew 20 – The Kingdom is like Laborers in a Vineyard, Foretelling Jesus Death a 3rd Time, Asking to Sit at Jesus’ Side in the Kingdom, First in the Kingdom Are Servants, Jesus Heals Two Blind Men


Matthew 20 – The Kingdom is like Laborers in a Vineyard, Foretelling Jesus Death a 3rd Time, Asking to Sit at Jesus’ Side in the Kingdom, First in the Kingdom Are Servants, Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

The kingdom of heaven is like a master hiring workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius. He hired people at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 11th hours. The workers hired at first came and thought they’d receive more, but they didn’t. They grumbled. The master reminded them that they agreed to work for a denarius. He is allowed to do what he chooses with what belongs to him. The last will be first and the first last. Jesus took 12 disciples aside and told them he would be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, be condemned to death, delivered to Gentiles, mocked, flogged, crucified, and raised after 3 days. The mothers of James and John asked Jesus if her sons could sit at his right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus told her she didn’t know what she asked. They would drink the cup Jesus will drink, but it’s not Jesus’ place to grant them to sit at his right or left hand, but His Father. The rest of the disciples were indignant with James and John. Jesus said whoever is great among them must be their servant, and the first must be their slave, even as Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. A great crowd followed, and Jesus healed two blind men. They cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And he did.

The kingdom of God is Jesus’ principle focus. Teaching about it, bringing people into it, and powerfully displaying how He is the fulfillment of God’s promises in Scripture as the King of God’s kingdom. Let us cry out not for positions of authority like James and John’s mother, but just for the ability to lay our eyes upon the glory of the Lord. Let our hearts be content with simply seeing God, not trying to jockey for positions of power. May God grow our hearts to be content with being humbly last, knowing that Christ is our all.