72 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
72 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
Parable of the Vineyard Workers
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# Chapter 20
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1. *"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.*
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2. *He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.*
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3. *"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.*
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4. *So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.*
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5. *So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing.*
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6. *"At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?'*
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7. *"They replied, 'Because no one hired us.'*
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*
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"The landowner told them, 'Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.'*
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8. *"That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.*
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9. *When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage.*
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10. *When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage.*
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11. *When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,*
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12. *'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'*
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13. *"He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage?*
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14. *Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.*
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15. *Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'*
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16. *"So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."*
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Jesus Again Predicts His Death
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17. As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.
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18. *"Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.*
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19. *Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."*
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Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
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20. Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
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21. *"What is your request?"* he asked.
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She replied, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."
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22. But Jesus answered by saying to them, *"You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?"*
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"Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"
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23. Jesus told them, *"You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."*
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24. When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
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25. But Jesus called them together and said, *"You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.*
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26. *But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,*
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27. *and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.*
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28. *For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."*
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Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
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29. As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.
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30. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
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31. "Be quiet!" the crowd yelled at them.
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But they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
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32. When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, *"What do you want me to do for you?"*
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33. "Lord," they said, "we want to see!"
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34. Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
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