Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

CHAPTER TWENTY:
EQUAL PAYMENT, A CUP TO DRINK,
AND SERVING OTHERS

[“Not Equal Pay for Equal Time”]
(Key word: Ransom)

Matthew 20:1-7 – The Kingdom and Vineyard Workers

MT20:1 “The Realm of Heaven may be compared to 1194 a human landlord who went out early to hire workers [to work] in his vineyard.
1194 Realm of Heaven may be compared to: There is something about the Church, the realm of profession, that is compared to the story that follows.
MT20:2 Having agreed with the workers for a denarius per day, 1195 he sent them off into his vineyard.
1195 A denarius per day: Or, KJV: a penny; GDSP: a dollar; NEB: the usual day’s wages; PME: a silver coin a day; WMS: twenty cents a day. Some estimate this at 16 cents (US). Whatever, it may be viewed as the day’s wage of a farmer worker. If the USA standard minimum wage were applied it would amount to $5.00 per hour or about $40 for a days work. The first workers he found at sunrise.
MT20:3 Now about the third hour 1196 he saw other persons out of work 1197 standing in the marketplace.
1196 Third hour: 9:00 AM, three hours after sunrise.
1197 Other persons out of work: The Greek is literally “non-work(er).” Or, KJV: others standing idle; BER: other workmen in the bazaar without employment; NOR: loafing, with nothing to do.
MT20:4 And to these he said, ‘Go into the vineyard and I will pay you whatever is fair.’ 1198
1198 I will pay you whatever is fair: Or, KJV: whatever is right.
MT20:5 These departed [for the vineyard]. Then again the landlord went out during both the sixth and ninth hours 1199 and he did the same.
1199 Sixth and ninth hours: Or, 12:00 noon and 3:00 PM.
MT20:6 Finally, about the eleventh hour 1200 he went out and found still others standing around, and to these he said, ‘Why are you just standing around the whole day without work?’
1200 Eleventh hour: An hour before sunset.
MT20:7 These [unemployed] responded to him, ‘Because nobody hired us.’ The landlord told them, ‘Go [work] in my vineyard.’

Matthew 20:8-16 – Last, First; First, Last

MT20:8 “When evening arrived the landlord of the vineyard said to the overseer, 1201 ‘Call the workers and give them their wages beginning with the last [men hired] until the first.’
1201 Overseer: Or, MOF: bailiff; WMS: manager; GDSP: foreman.
MT20:9 The eleventh hour workers each received a denarius. MT20:10 Now the first workers hired concluded they would receive more, but each of them received also a denarius. MT20:11 But having been paid they began to murmur against 1202 the landlord,
1202 To murmur against: Or, TCNT: grumble; KNX: were indignant. Research the word murmur.
MT20:12 saying, ‘These last fellows worked just one hour while we have born the whole burden during the hottest part 1203 of the day.’
1203 We have born the whole burden during the hottest part: Or, ASV: born the burden of the day and the scorching heat; NEB: have sweated the whole day long in the blazing sun; GDSP: done the heavy work of the day and stood the midday heat. The issue is amount or degrees of work and the conditions under which one labors.
MT20:13 The landlord responded telling one of them, ‘Fellow, I have not wronged you. 1204 Did we not agree on a denarius?
1204 Fellow, I have not wronged you: Or, KJV: friend, I do thee no wrong; TCNT: I am not treating you unfairly. The “you” is singular in Greek.
MT20:14 Take your pay and leave. I wish to pay the last workers the same as I paid you. MT20:15 Am I not allowed to do whatever I wish with what is mine? 1205 Or, is your eye wicked 1206 because I am good?’ 1207
1205 Am I not allowed to do whatever I wish with what is mine: Or, RSV: am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me; MON: have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property.
1206 Is your eye wicked: See notes on Matthew 6:23. Compare Deuteronomy 15:9. Or, KJV: evil eye; RSV: begrudge my generosity; TCNT: envious; KNX: give me sour looks; NEB: jealous. It is a matter of how the eye looks as another.
1207 Because I am good: Or, RSV: my generosity; TCNT: I am liberal; NEB: I am kind. Research the word good.
MT20:16 So, those last will be first 1208 and those who were first, last.”
1208 So, those last will be first: This may be the Nazarene’s moral or the words of the landlord. No matter how long, how hard, or under what conditions – the “workers” in the harvest receive the same wage: celestial glory. Compare Mark 9:35 (Mark 10:31). Some labor under self-righteous superiority because they have labored longer, and possibly harder, than newer members within the realm of profession.

Matthew 20:17-19 – Onward to Jerusalem!

|| Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-33

MT20:17 On the way during their ascent to Jerusalem Jesus led the twelve disciples to a private spot. On the path there, he said to them: MT20:18 “Look! We are ascending to Jerusalem and there the Son of Humankind will be turned in to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death. MT20:19 They will turn him over to the non-Jews. 1209 They will scourge and make fun of him before impaling 1210 [Psalm 22:1-18] him. On the third day he will be raised up.”
1209 Non-Jews: Or, NEB: foreign power; RHM: nations; RIEU: pagans; GDSP: heathen. See notes on Non-Jews and ETHNOS.
1210 Impaling: The Greek is STAUROSAI. Or, KJV: crucify him.

Matthew 20:20-23 – A Selfish Request Rejected

|| Mark 10:35-40

MT20:20 Later 1211 the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and bowed 1212 wishing to ask a favor from him.
1211 Later: Some time has elapsed from the mountain retreat.
1212 Bowed: The Greek is PROSKUNOUSA. Or, KJV: worshipping him; KNX: falling on her knees; TCNT: bowing to the ground. Research the word worship.
MT20:21 Jesus asked her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Promise 1213 that my two sons may be enthroned with you 1214 in your kingdom – one on your left and one on your right.”
1213 Promise: Or, KJV: grant; ASV: command; PME: please say.
1214 Enthroned with you: Literally, “sit.” Compare Revelation 3:21. See notes on Matthew 19:28.
MT20:22 But Jesus answered her, “You do not realize 1215 what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” 1216 The [two disciples] said, “We are able!”
1215 You do not realize: It is likely this is directed at the two disciples, James and John, also called the “sons of thunder.” The parallel accounts have them making the request (likely through their mother). Or, NEB: you do not understand; MON: none of you know what you are asking.
1216 To drink the cup I am about to drink: The KJV adds: baptized with the baptism. The “cup” is something to drink, share, or partake of. Compare notes on Matthew 26:39 (Mark 14:36; John 18:11). Paul says something similar at Romans 6:3-5. The disciples are destined to share a fate and life course similar to their Lord.
MT20:23 Jesus told them, “You will really drink my Cup. However, this sitting on my right and left is not my decision to make. 1217 Rather it belongs to those my Father has prepared.” 1218
1217 Not my decision to make: Literally, KJV: not mine to give. It seems evident that there are certain matters that are the prerogative of the Father. Compare Acts 1:7. The Son has limited authority and knowledge while the Father’s is absolute.
1218 It belongs to those my Father has prepared: Or, KJV: it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared; KNX: it is for those for whom my Father has destined it; NEB: it is for those to whim it has already been assigned. The conclusions drawn from this are many. Some see predestination here. Others hold different views. It is interesting that the Nazarene just doesn’t say there are no such privileged positions in heaven. The whole subject still relates back to the appointment of Peter in Matthew 16:18 and the ongoing argument over who is the greatest among them. We ourselves are embarrassed that two of the apostles would get their mother to ask the Lord for this privilege. How the others felt we will now see.
The Greek word translated “prepared” is HETOIMASTAI. “Strong’s #2090 HETOIMAZO {het-oy-mad’-zo} from 2092; TDNT - 2:704, 266; AV - prepare 29, make ready 10, provide 1; 40. 1) to make ready, prepare; 1a) to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready; 2) metaph. 2a) drawn from the oriental custom of sending on before kings on their journeys persons to level the roads and make them passable; 2b) to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings.” The main idea may be no more than that God has purposed something according to His will and thus has made all the preparations necessary to accomplish this.

Matthew 20:24-28 – Authority Not the Way – Serve Others

|| Mark 10:41-45; Luke 22:24-27

MT20:24 Having heard this the other ten [apostles] became indignant 1219 at the brothers [James and John].
1219 Indignant: RHM: sorely displeased; RIEU: grumbled; PME: highly indignant. We can only imagine the jealous feelings of the others who had their own political ambitions, particularly Judas. Peter has already been given a special trust and he must have had his own feelings regarding this matter.
MT20:25 But Jesus asked the disciples to present themselves, then he told them: “You are aware that the non-Jewish rulers lord it over their subjects; 1220 and, the ‘greats’ wield authority over others.
1220 Non-Jewish rulers lord it over their subjects: Or, KJV: the princes of the Non-Jews exercise dominion; RIEU: the rulers of the pagans exercise despotic powers; NOR: the heathen rulers are high-handed; NEB: in the world, rulers lord it over their subjects.
MT20:26 Not so among you. 1221 Rather, whoever wishes to be ‘great’ must be your slave.
1221 Not so among you: Or, KJV: it shall not be so among you; KNX: with you it must be otherwise; BER: but among you it’s different. This is a command from the Lord that authoritarian tyranny will be absent from genuine disciples of Jesus. We find in Jesus the perfect example of a true leader within the Christian framework: a humble and loving model who asks nothing of his fellows that he himself will not do. Not once does the Nazarene take advantage of his followers by living a life-style better than they.
MT20:27 Whoever wishes to be prominent 1222 must be your slave.
1222 Prominent: Or, KJV: chief; TCNT: first place.
MT20:28 Just as the Son of Humankind came not to be served 1223 but to serve and to sacrifice his soul 1224 [Isaiah 53:12] as a ransom 1225 in the place of many.” 1226
1223 Came not to be served: Or, GDSP: not to be waited on.
1224 To sacrifice his soul: Or, KJV: give his life; NEB: to surrender his life. On the subject of “soul” or, PSYCHE see articles elsewhere: Where Are the Dead?
1225 Ransom: Or, WMS: ransom price; WEY: redemption price. Research the word ransom.
1226 In the place of many: Or, RHM: instead of many. See Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7, 14; Ephesians 4:30; Colossians 1:14; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 9:15.

Matthew 20:29-34 – Two Blind Men Pitied and Healed

|| Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

MT20:29 And as they traveled on their way from Jericho 1227 a large crowd followed them.
1227 On their way from Jericho: Mark 10:46 has this, “And they came into Jer’i·cho.” This would be a simple typo or editing problem easy to correct unless there was a truth behind the two different versions. Jericho was a dual city so one may exit one part and enter the next without a contradiction.
MT20:30 And, look! two blind men 1228 were sitting beside the road and having heard that Jesus was passing by they cried out, saying, “Sir, have mercy on us, Son of David!”
1228 Two blind men: Mark 10:46 reports only one, “Bartimae’us (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar.” The fact that Mark provides the name may indicate a later association in early Christianity. Mark focuses on the one known individual and for his own reasons ignoring the other. Luke 18:35 only says, “a certain blind man.”
MT20:31 When the crowd rebuked the blind men to keep quiet they cried out even more, yelling, “Sir, have mercy on us, Son of David!” MT20:32 Now stopping before them, Jesus raised his voice to them and said, “What do you wish me to do?” MT20:33 The blind men said to Jesus, “Sir, open our eyes that we might see!” MT20:34 Moved with great compassion, 1229 Jesus touched their eyeballs and instantly they could see again and they followed 1230 after him.
1229 Great compassion: Or, RSV: pity; NEB: deeply moved.
1230 They followed: This may mean they went along with the crowd, or that they became his followers. The fact Mark names one of them may indicate he became a disciple.

Mark Heber Miller