The parable of the vineyard1"The Kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who early in the morning went to hire workers for his vineyard.2He agreed their pay for the day and set them to work.3"He went out again around nine o'clock and saw others standing idly in the market place.4He said to them, 'Go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you the right amount at the end of the day.' So they also accepted his offer.5"The owner of the estate went out again about noon and at three in the afternoon and hired others on the same understanding.6Even at five o'clock he found others doing nothing and so asked them, 'Why have you been standing around all day with nothing to do?'7"They answered, 'Because no one hired us.' He replied: 'Well, go and work in my vineyard.'8"At the end of the working day, the owner of the estate told his foremen, 'Call the workers together and pay them, beginning with those I hired last and working up to those I hired first.'9"Those employed around five o'clock came and each received a full day's wage.10So when those who were hired at the beginning of the day came forward, they expected to be paid more. But each was given only the full day's wage.11-12At this they began to complain about the owner, saying, 'Those who were hired to work for only one hour have received the same amount as us, and we have been working all day long in the scorching heat.'13-14"The owner answered, 'My friends, I am not being unjust to you. You agreed to work for the amount I have paid you, didn't you? And I have paid you accordingly; so go on your way. It was my decision to pay those I hired last the same as you.15Surely I have the right to use my money as I choose? Are you jealous because I am so generous?'"16Then Jesus concluded: "So those who think they are last, the bottom of the pile, will become the first. And those who think they deserve the top positions will find themselves at the bottom of the pile."Jesus predicts His death17-19As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem with His twelve disciples, He said privately to them: "We are going up to Jerusalem and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the religious law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Roman authorities to be ridiculed, flogged and crucified. But on the third day after His death, He will be raised back to life!"The importance of serving20Later, the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her two sons and knelt before Him to ask a favour of Him. "What do you want?" He asked.21She replied: "Please give my two sons the places of highest honour in Your Kingdom, one immediately on Your right and the other on Your left."22Jesus told all three: "You don't appreciate the significance of what you are requesting. Are you able to drink the same cup of suffering that I will have to drink?" "Yes, we can," James and John both answered.23Jesus replied: "You will surely have to drink from this cup, but it is not for Me to decide who should sit at My right and left. My Father has reserved these places for those He has chosen to fill them."24The other ten disciples were indignant with the two brothers when they heard about the request.25So Jesus called them all together and said: "You are aware that kings love to lord it over those beneath them, and their secular officials enjoy exercising their authority over them.26-27But this is not the way for you to behave. Those among you who want to become great must have servant hearts and whoever wants a higher position must be prepared to serve as if he were your slave.28For this is the example given you by the Son of Man who came to serve others, not to be served by them! He came to sacrifice His life as a ransom to save many!"Two blind men healed29A large crowd followed Jesus as He and His disciples left Jericho.30Sitting on the roadside were two blind men who shouted out as Jesus passed: "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us."31Those around them rebuked them, telling them to be quiet. But this made them even more determined; so they shouted more loudly: "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"32Hearing them, Jesus stopped and called them forward. "What is it that you want Me to do for you?" He asked them.33"Lord, we want our sight to be restored," they answered.34With compassion Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they received their sight and then followed Him.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)