MATTHEW 20

Today’s titles are as follows. Verses 1-16 Workers in the vineyard. Verses 17-19 Jesus again foretells his passion. Verses 20-29 A mother asks greatness for her sons. Verses 30-34 Jesus heals two blind men. We begin with a parable that began in Mat.19:30 we will include that in today’s study. Matthew 19 and verse 30 reads.

Mat.19:30] But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

We are talking about from the first earth age (Then) to the second earth age (Now). Matthew 20 and verse 1 reads.

Mat.20:1] 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.
[2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

These would be God’s Elect that stood with him, from the beginning, against Satan in the first earth age. This is about 6am.

Mat.20:3] And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
[4] And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

These are those God chose along the way. Notice he said Whatsoever is right, he didn’t say an exact wage. This would be around 9am.

Mat.20:5] Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

Between noon and 3pm. These would be those that are converted along the way. They knew not the LORD but have come to love him, and through repentance they have received Salvation.

Mat.20:6] And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
[7] They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

Now we are about 5pm. The day is almost over. Even on a deathbed, one can receive Salvation, John 3:16 For whosoever believeth. Let’s go to 2Peter 3 and find God’s Will, verse 9 reads.

2Pet.3:9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The love of our Father is patience. Longsuffering is patience, Perish is death of the soul. If any comes to repentance and announces Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he will have everlasting life. It is our job to seek them out and find them, and bring them to Jesus, our rewards in the kingdom are great. Back to Matthew 20 and verse 8 reads.

Mat.20:8] 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.

Do this in front of the Elect, let them see the fruit of their labor. How will they take it? Let’s see.

Mat.20:9] And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

It has been established that the vineyard is this world age, now this penny is life eternal.

Mat.20:10] But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

What more could they want, everlasting life is the reward, it is the penny. Did they not agree for a penny? Are they jealous of those who receive life everlasting? Was this not our job, to bring those to repentance and Salvation? Remember this is a parable, Jesus is teaching his Elect not to be jealous, but God’s Will that all come to repentance! Jesus will straighten this out, verse 11 continues.

Mat.20:11] And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

They murmured against God.

Mat.20:12] Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
[13] But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
[14] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
[15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
[16] So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

As we began in Mat.19:30 comes to pass in verse 16, But that few are chosen is given for you today as God’s Elect not to be jealous. Our Works are the only thing we can take with us to heaven, called our righteous acts they make up our white robes. Let’s go to Revelation 20 and verse 4 reads.

Rev.20:4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The Elect will be priests with Christ for a thousand years, the millennium. What do priests do, they teach. Back to Matthew 20 and verse 17 reads.

Mat.20:17] And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

Jerusalem means; Teaching of Peace or city of Peace.

Mat.20:18] 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,

Condemn him to death in the city of Peace. But that he will be betrayed is also prophesied about Judas in Psalms 41 and verse 9 reads.

Psa.41:9] Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Back to Matthew 20 and verse 19 reads.

Mat.20:19] And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

That they deliver him to the Gentile, we find in John 18 and verse 28 reads.

John 18:28] Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
[29] Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

The twelve should have known this by the scriptures, Psalms 22 written a thousand years before by king David. But they will forget, or maybe for their sakes they were blinded by Jesus so that they did not interfere with God’s plan for the Lamb. Back to Matthew 20 and verse 20 reads.

Mat.20:20] Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

Her name is Salome (Peaceful) the wife of Zebedee (My gift) the mother of James the great or elder, older than James the half brother of Jesus, and John the writer of the Gospel of John and the epistles of John and the book of Revelation. She is also sister to Mother Mary, making her also a daughter of Aaron.

Mat.20:21] And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

We learned in Matthew 17 on the mount of transfiguration, that it is Moses (The lawgiver) and Elijah (The prophet of prophets) that stand by the LORD in heaven. But we see here the love of a mother for her children.

Mat.20:22] 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.

Her sons James and John answered him with We are able.

Mat.20:23] 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 on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

They will surely drink of the cup, they will be persecuted and killed, and with the baptism of the Holy Spirit they shall receive in Acts 2. But that the Father only can make the decision about who is on the right and the left hand of God. Now, the other ten will be upset that it was even asked if they would be above them. Really Judas, did he not tell them a moment ago that one would betray him.

Mat.20:24] And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

Are there not twenty-four thrones surrounding the throne of God, and are not twelve set aside for the twelve. But to show that these twelve apostles are flesh and have the same hangups that we have in the flesh, our examples. But to show that these twelve have a special place set aside for them in the kingdom, let’s go to Revelation 21 and verse 14 reads.

Rev.21:14] And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Back to Matthew 20 and verse 25 reads.

Mat.20:25] But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
[26] But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
[27] And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
[28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Do not lord over any others in the church because Jesus is the Godhead, and even he ministered to them as we should minister unto others. Jesus is saying he is our example of how to be a minister.

Mat.20:29] And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
[30] 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.

The fact that they cried out Thou Son of David shows they had the Key of David. The knowledge that the Christ would come through Jesse.

Mat.20:31] And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

The fact the multitude rebuked them shows that many people have no compassion. Compassion is a trade mark of God’s Elect.

Mat.20:32] And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
[33] They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
[34] So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Instantly they receive their sight, and followed Jesus. When the Son of God opens your eyes, none can shut them, think spiritually. Eyes to see and ears to hear. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible