Matthew 20

Thought on This Chapter

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

MT 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,

MT 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.

MT 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Two times in this chapter Jesus tells His disciples of His coming death. Jesus tells them that it will happen in Jerusalem. Jesus tells them that He will be betrayed. He tells them that this betrayal will put Him into the hands of the chief priests and the scribes. Jesus tells them that the chief priests and the scribes will condemn Him to death. This was something that they did not have the power to do at this time. Only Rome had the power to enact the death penalty. The disciples might have wondered how can they do that? But Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. Jesus told them that the priests were going to deliver Him to the Gentiles, and that they were going to mock Him and scourge Him. And after that, crucify Him. Jesus also told them why. He told them that He came to give His life as a ransom for many. No one was going to take His life. He gave it. He did not give it for just a few but for many. For all who would accept His atoning work on the cross.

They kept talking about the kingdom and Jesus was telling them that this was not the time for the kingdom. First He must die. First he must give His life as a ransom for many. He tells them that He did not come to be ministered to like a ruler of a kingdom. That comes later. He came this time to minister. He came to pay for our sin.

But He also tells them that His death will not be permanent. He tells them that 3 days later He will rise again.

After verse 19 they go back to talking about the kingdom. Instead of bringing in the kingdom, Jesus went to the cross and died. The disciples all forsook Him. They wanted a kingdom without a cross. But it does not work that way. (Thankfully the disciples understood that after the resurrection).

First the sin question has to be dealt with. Then later can come the kingdom.

It is the same with you. You first have to go to the cross and have your sins forgiven. You have to accept His atoning work. You have to acknowledge that He died in your place; that He paid your sin debt. You must believe in your heart and call upon Him to save you.

Do not be a part of the multitude that want the kingdom without the cross of Christ.

Thought On This Chapter

MT 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.

Two of the disciples wanted to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in the kingdom. A position of honor and authority. The other disciples were angry at this. Jesus then calls them all together and reminds His disciples how the world looks at greatness and authority. The world sets great men into positions of authority. Greatness as the world sees greatness. Maybe great in speaking ability, or great in talent, or great in building a power base, or great in manipulation, or simply great at bullying. Then Jesus tells them that it is different with God's kingdom.

MT 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

MT 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

If you want to be considered great with God, then be a servant. Do you want to be chief, then serve others. Real practical, self sacrificing, working, putting others first type of service. Concern about others and doing something about it thru service is what counts as great with God. The greatest example of course is Jesus.

MT 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

We are to serve others even as the Son of man. That is with a self sacrificing love. Jesus literally gave the most He could give. He gave His life as a ransom for us.

Some men want to be pastors so they can rule over others. They have the wrong idea. A great pastor is a servant. He is a minister to others. He ministers in many ways, counseling, prayer, hospital visits, and so on. I think the most important way is in the ministry of the word.

The pastor is not the only one who should have an attitude of being a servant. Every Christian should also minister unto others. Greatness is service. Are you being a servant they way God wants you to?

King James Bible Main Index:

Matthew 20 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

MT 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.

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

MT 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

MT 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

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

MT 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?

MT 20:7 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.

MT 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.

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

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

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

MT 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.

MT 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

MT 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

MT 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

MT 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

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

MT 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,

MT 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.

MT 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

MT 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.

MT 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.

MT 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.

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

MT 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.

MT 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

MT 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

MT 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

MT 20:29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

MT 20:30 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.

MT 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.

MT 20:32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

MT 20:33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

MT 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Outline of Matthew Chapter 20

VII. Parable of the householder
A. He hires laborers for a penny a day early in the morning
B. He hires laborers at the third hour for the same wage of a penny
C. He hires also at the sixth and ninth hour for the same wage.
D. He is still hiring at the eleventh hour
E. At the end of the day they get paid
F. Those hired at the eleventh hour received the same pay of a penny
G. Those that worked a whole day thought they should have received more
1. They murmured against the housekeeper
2. They complained about bearing the burden in the heat of the day and getting the same pay
H. The wage was fair
1. Because they agreed to it
2. Because it is lawful for Him to do what He will with His own
VIII. Impending death and resurrection
A. Jesus once again tells His disciples what is about to happen to Him
B. He will be betrayed
C. He will be condemned to death
D. He will be delivered to the Gentiles
1. To mock
2. To scourge
3. To crucify
E. The third day He will rise again
IX. A mother's selfish request
A. She comes and worships Jesus
B. She asks that her two sons may sit on his right and left hand in His kingdom
C. Jesus answers, "Ye know not what ye ask"
D. Jesus tells them they will drink of His cup
E. But it is up to the Father who gets to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus
F. This exchange made the other 10 have indignation against the two
G. Whosoever will be great, let him be a servant
H. Jesus is the example
1. He came not to be ministered to
2. He came to minister
3. He came to give His life a ransom for many
X. Two blind men healed
A. They cry to Jesus for mercy
1. The crowd rebukes them
2. They cry the more
B. Jesus stops and takes notice of them
C. Jesus had compassion and heals them
D. They follow Jesus

The two blind men had no power to heal themselves. They understood that the only thing that they could do is call upon the name of the Lord for mercy. They still cried to Jesus for mercy even with the crowd rebuking them. Even in the crowd Jesus hears, answers, and heals them. They then follow Jesus.

What a picture of salvation. You must realize your inability to heal yourself. You must call upon Jesus to heal you. ROM 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. You must call for mercy even though you will be rebuked and mocked by the world. Jesus will hear and He will save you. Only He can heal you from the sickness in your soul called sin.

And after they are healed they follow Jesus. Too many Christians take the free gift of salvation and then forsake the Lord. After He saves you from eternal death in hell and gives you eternal life in heaven, it is only right that you follow Him.