Matthew 20
Another Likeness of the Kingdom of Heaven A householder, early in the day, hired laborers for a penny a day. Also, at the third, sixth and ninth hours he hired laborers. (These picture the Jews under law.) At the eleventh hour he found more laborers, and said, Why do you stand idle all day long? They answered that no man had hired them. He then asked them to go into the vineyard and he would pay what was right. The first ones hired were Israelites; the last ones hired at the eleventh hour were a picture of the Gentiles.
When evening came, the steward was told to pay them, beginning at the last ones; they all received the same. The first murmured and said that the last had not worked as long as they, yet they were paid the same. The householder answered, "Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?... So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
In providing for the Gentiles better blessing than for the Jews, the Lord shows both His sovereignty and His great love. Salvation does not depend on works, but on the mercy of God.
On the way up to Jerusalem, the Lord took His disciples aside and told them about His sufferings and death. They seemed to understand only a little. He told them how He would be abused by the Gentiles; He would be put to death, and on the third day He would rise again. This was all new and strange to the Jewish mind. They thought that Jesus, when He came as King, would come in honor and glory. These disciples must follow a rejected Christ who anticipated death and resurrection.
The mother of Zebedee's children asked for a special place in the kingdom for her sons. She wanted one to be on the right and the other to be on the left hand of His throne. Jesus asked James and John if they were able to drink of the cup that He was to drink of and to be baptized with the same baptism as He, that is to suffer rejection and martyrdom. They said they were able, and He responded, "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."
This request moved the ten disciples to indignation against the two. Jesus explained that honor in the kingdom of heaven was of a different nature than that of the Gentile nations-"Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister." The Lord reminded them that He came to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.
As they walked along, two blind men cried out saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David." The multitude tried to quiet them, but they continued to cry out until Jesus, the one who caused the sun to stand still, stood still. He asked what He could do for them and they said, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." With compassion the Lord touched their eyes and they received sight. This is what the Lord would do for all Israel if they would receive Him, but they would not.