Matthew 20: Grace, Service & Sight
Table of Contents
- The Three Movements
- Conceptual Flow
- The Grace vs. Merit Architecture
- Section Analysis
- Unified Framework
- Diagnostic Summary
- Chapter in One Sentence
- Cross-References
The Three Movements
| Section | Focus | Core Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Parable (vv. 1-16) | Grace economics | Same pay for all = grace over merit |
| Prediction & Request (vv. 17-28) | Servant leadership | Glory through suffering, greatness through service |
| Healing (vv. 29-34) | Mercy given | Ask, receive, follow — grace in action |
Conceptual Flow
MATTHEW 20 STRUCTURE
│
├─ vv. 1-16 WORKERS IN VINEYARD → Grace Economics
│ ├─► Hired at different hours:
│ │ ├─ Early morning (6 AM)
│ │ ├─ Third hour (9 AM)
│ │ ├─ Sixth hour (noon)
│ │ ├─ Ninth hour (3 PM)
│ │ └─► Eleventh hour (5 PM)
│ ├─► All paid SAME: one denarius
│ ├─► First workers grumble
│ │ └─► "Made them EQUAL to us!"
│ ├─► Owner: "I am GENEROUS"
│ └─► "Last will be FIRST, first will be LAST"
│
├─ vv. 17-19 THIRD PASSION PREDICTION → The Path
│ ├─► Going UP to Jerusalem
│ ├─► Son of Man delivered to:
│ │ ├─ Chief priests, scribes
│ │ └─► Gentiles
│ ├─► Condemned, mocked, flogged, CRUCIFIED
│ └─► Third day: RAISED
│
├─ vv. 20-28 JAMES & JOHN'S REQUEST → Greatness Inverted
│ ├─► Mother: "My sons at right and left"
│ ├─► Jesus: "Can you drink my CUP?"
│ │ └─► "We can"
│ ├─► "You WILL drink it"
│ │ └─► But seats: Father decides
│ ├─► Ten INDIGNANT
│ └─► Jesus: Gentiles LORD IT OVER
│ └─► "Not so with you"
│ ├─ Great = SERVANT
│ ├─ First = SLAVE
│ └─► Son of Man: came to SERVE
│ Give life as RANSOM
│
└─ vv. 29-34 TWO BLIND MEN → Grace Received
├─► Leaving Jericho
├─► "Son of David, have MERCY!"
├─► Crowd rebukes → shout LOUDER
├─► Jesus: "What do you WANT?"
├─► "We want our SIGHT"
└─► Touched → healed → FOLLOWEDThe Grace vs. Merit Architecture
LITERARY FRAME:
│
├─ 19:30: "Many who are FIRST will be LAST,
│ and many who are LAST will be FIRST"
│ │
│ └─► Sets up parable
│
├─ PARABLE (20:1-15)
│ │
│ └─► Illustrates the principle
│
└─► 20:16: "So the LAST will be FIRST,
and the FIRST will be LAST"
│
└─► Closes the frame
│
└─► INCLUSIO: Same statement brackets parable
Chiastic structure emphasizes point
THE PROBLEM JESUS ADDRESSES:
│
└─► 19:27 - Peter asked:
│
└─► "We have LEFT everything...
What will there be FOR US?"
│
└─► Merit-based thinking:
│
├─ I gave X
├─ I deserve Y
└─► Calculate my reward
│
└─► PARABLE CORRECTS:
│
└─► Kingdom ≠ merit system
Kingdom = grace system
│
└─► All receive SAME
Not based on hours worked
Based on owner's generosity
THE CHAPTER'S FLOW:
│
├─ PARABLE (vv. 1-16):
│ └─► Grace > Merit
│ First workers = entitled
│ Last workers = grateful
│
├─ PASSION PREDICTION (vv. 17-19):
│ └─► Jesus models grace
│ Gives life for undeserving
│ │
│ └─► The ULTIMATE "last becoming first"
│ King becomes servant
│ Dies for rebels
│
├─ JAMES & JOHN (vv. 20-28):
│ └─► Disciples STILL don't get it
│ Want positions of honor
│ │
│ └─► Jesus: "Great = servant"
│ Merit-seeking exposed
│ Service defined
│
└─► BLIND MEN (vv. 29-34):
└─► Model of grace reception
│
├─ No merit (blind, marginalized)
├─ Just ask: "Have MERCY"
├─ Receive freely
└─► Follow gratefully
│
└─► Contrast with James/John:
│
├─ J&J: "Grant us positions"
│ └─► Seeking honor
│
└─► Blind men: "Have mercy"
└─► Seeking graceSection Analysis
1. Workers in the Vineyard (vv. 1-16) — GRACE DISRUPTS MERIT
THE SETUP (vv. 1-2)
│
└─► "For the kingdom of heaven is like
a LANDOWNER who went out EARLY IN THE MORNING
to hire WORKERS for his vineyard"
│
└─► "For" (γάρ) — connects to 19:30
│
└─► Explains why "first will be last"
│
└─► οἰκοδεσπότης (oikodespotēs)
│
└─► "Master of the house"
Landowner with authority
│
└─► Represents: GOD
│
└─► "Early in the morning" (ἅμα πρωῒ)
│
└─► ~6 AM (sunrise)
Start of workday
│
└─► Grape harvest = urgent
Limited window
Need workers NOW
THE AGREEMENT (v. 2)
│
└─► "He AGREED to pay them a DENARIUS for the day
and sent them into his vineyard"
│
└─► συμφωνήσας (symphōnēsas) — "having agreed"
│
└─► Mutual contract
Both parties consent
│
└─► IMPORTANT: First workers NEGOTIATE
They know the terms
They accept the terms
│
└─► δηνάριον (dēnarion)
│
└─► Standard day's wage
Fair pay for day's labor
│
└─► Not generous, not stingy
JUSTThe Multiple Hirings (vv. 3-7):
THIRD HOUR - 9 AM (vv. 3-4)
│
└─► "About nine in the morning he went out
and saw others standing in the marketplace
DOING NOTHING"
│
└─► ἀργούς (argous) — "idle, unemployed"
│
└─► ἀ (without) + ἔργον (work)
│
└─► Not lazy by choice
Waiting to be hired
│
└─► Marketplace = hiring hall
Where workers gathered
Hoping for employment
│
└─► "He told them, 'You also go...
I will pay you WHATEVER IS RIGHT'"
│
└─► ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον — "whatever is just"
│
└─► NO specific wage mentioned
No negotiation
│
└─► Trust the owner
"Whatever is right"
│
└─► DIFFERENT from first workers:
First: agreed to specific wage
These: trust owner's fairness
SIXTH HOUR - NOON (v. 5a)
│
└─► "He went out again about noon..."
│
└─► Same pattern
Found more idle
Sent to vineyard
│
└─► Half day remaining
NINTH HOUR - 3 PM (v. 5b)
│
└─► "...and about three in the afternoon
and did the same thing"
│
└─► Only 3 hours of work left
Still hired
│
└─► Owner's persistence:
Keeps going back
Keeps finding workers
Keeps hiring
ELEVENTH HOUR - 5 PM (vv. 6-7)
│
└─► "About five in the afternoon he went out
and found STILL OTHERS standing around.
He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here
ALL DAY LONG doing nothing?'"
│
└─► Only ONE HOUR of work left
│
└─► Why hire now?
Barely any work time
│
└─► "Why standing all day?"
│
└─► "Because NO ONE has hired us"
│
└─► οὐδεὶς ἡμᾶς ἐμισθώσατο
"No one hired us"
│
└─► Not by choice
Not lazy
│
UNWANTED
│
└─► Perhaps:
├─ Too old
├─ Too weak
├─ Unskilled
└─► Passed over all day
│
└─► Stood there hoping
Hour after hour
No one wanted them
│
└─► "He said to them, 'YOU ALSO go
and work in my vineyard'"
│
└─► ὑπάγετε καὶ ὑμεῖς
│
└─► "You too, go"
│
└─► No wage mentioned
No promise made
│
└─► Just: "Go work"
They went
│
└─► Grateful for ANY work
Any wage
THE HIRING PATTERN:
│
├─ 6 AM: Negotiated wage (denarius)
├─ 9 AM: "Whatever is right"
├─ Noon: Same
├─ 3 PM: Same
└─► 5 PM: Nothing mentioned
│
└─► DECREASING certainty
INCREASING trust
│
└─► First: contract
Last: faithThe Payment (vv. 8-12):
THE REVERSAL (v. 8)
│
└─► "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard
said to his foreman, 'Call the workers
and pay them their wages,
BEGINNING WITH THE LAST ones hired
and GOING ON TO THE FIRST'"
│
└─► Evening = end of workday (~6 PM)
│
└─► Lev 19:13: "Do not hold back wages...
overnight"
Deut 24:15: "Pay wages... before sunset"
│
└─► Owner obeys Torah
│
└─► "Beginning with LAST... to FIRST"
│
└─► ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων
│
└─► DELIBERATE reversal
│
└─► Why this order?
│
└─► So first workers SEE
What last workers receive
│
└─► Creates expectation
Sets up the conflict
│
└─► If paid first-to-last:
First get denarius
Leave
Never see others paid
│
BUT last-to-first:
First WATCH
First EXPECT MORE
First COMPLAIN
THE SURPRISE (vv. 9-10)
│
├─ LAST workers paid (v. 9):
│ │
│ └─► "The workers who were hired about five
│ in the afternoon came and
│ each received a DENARIUS"
│ │
│ └─► ONE HOUR of work
│ FULL DAY'S pay
│ │
│ └─► Shocking generosity
│ │
│ └─► They expected: fraction
│ They received: fullness
│
└─► FIRST workers' expectation (v. 10):
│
└─► "So when those came who were hired first,
they EXPECTED to receive MORE"
│
└─► ἐνόμισαν (enomisan) — "they supposed, assumed"
│
└─► Reasonable assumption (in merit system):
│
├─ If 1 hour = 1 denarius
│
└─► Then 12 hours = 12 denarii?
│
└─► PROPORTIONAL thinking
Merit-based calculation
│
BUT:
│
└─► "But each one of them
ALSO received a denarius"
│
└─► SAME pay
Regardless of hours
│
└─► This is the scandal
THE GRUMBLING (vv. 11-12)
│
└─► "When they received it,
they began to GRUMBLE against the landowner"
│
└─► ἐγόγγυζον (egongyzon) — "they grumbled, murmured"
│
└─► Same word as Israel in wilderness
Exod 16:2: "grumbled against Moses"
Num 14:2: "grumbled against Moses and Aaron"
│
└─► COMPLAINT SPIRIT
Dissatisfaction with God's provision
│
└─► Their complaint (v. 12):
│
└─► "'These who were hired LAST
worked only ONE HOUR,' they said,
'and you have made them EQUAL to us
who have borne the BURDEN of the work
and the HEAT of the day'"
│
└─► Three complaints:
│
├─ "Only ONE hour"
│ └─► They worked 12x more
│
├─ "Made them EQUAL to us"
│ │
│ └─► ἴσους (isous) — "equal"
│ │
│ └─► THIS is the offense
│ │
│ └─► Not: "We got cheated"
│ IS: "They got what we got"
│ │
│ └─► Equality feels like injustice
│ To those who think they deserve more
│
└─► "BURDEN and HEAT"
│
└─► βάρος (baros) — "weight, burden"
καύσωνα (kausōna) — "scorching heat"
│
└─► Real suffering
Real sacrifice
│
└─► "We EARNED this"
"They didn't"The Owner’s Response (vv. 13-15):
THE DEFENSE (vv. 13-14)
│
└─► "But he answered one of them,
'I am NOT being UNFAIR to you, friend.
Didn't you AGREE to work for a denarius?'"
│
└─► οὐκ ἀδικῶ σε — "I do not wrong you"
│
└─► Legal language
│
└─► "Did I break the contract?"
│
└─► NO
│
└─► You AGREED to denarius
You RECEIVED denarius
│
CONTRACT FULFILLED
│
└─► "Friend" (ἑταῖρε)
│
└─► Not warm "φίλος" (philos)
More formal, distant
│
└─► Same word in:
├─ 22:12: Man without wedding clothes
└─► 26:50: Jesus to Judas
│
└─► Gentle rebuke tone
│
└─► "Take your pay and GO" (v. 14a)
│
└─► ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε
│
└─► "Take what is yours"
│
└─► Not cheated
Got exactly what agreed
│
NOW GO
│
└─► Dismissed
THE OWNER'S PREROGATIVE (vv. 14b-15)
│
└─► "'I WANT to give the one who was hired last
THE SAME as I gave you'"
│
└─► θέλω (thelō) — "I will, I want, I desire"
│
└─► Owner's SOVEREIGN WILL
│
└─► "I CHOOSE to give"
Not obligation
GENEROSITY
│
└─► "'Don't I have the RIGHT
to do what I want with my OWN money?'"
│
└─► ἔξεστίν μοι — "Is it not permitted to me?"
│
└─► "Is it not lawful for me?"
│
└─► Legal right affirmed:
│
└─► My money
My vineyard
My choice
│
└─► Rom 9:21: "Does not the potter
have the right...?"
│
└─► "'Or are you ENVIOUS
because I am GENEROUS?'"
│
└─► ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου πονηρός ἐστιν
│
└─► Literally: "Is your eye EVIL?"
│
└─► "Evil eye" = ENVY
│
└─► Prov 28:22: "Stingy man is eager for riches;
does not know poverty awaits"
(Same idiom in Hebrew)
│
└─► THE REAL ISSUE:
│
└─► Not: owner's injustice
IS: worker's ENVY
│
└─► "I am GOOD" (ἀγαθός)
│
└─► Owner is GENEROUS
│
└─► Problem: You can't tolerate
generosity to others
│
└─► Your "evil eye" sees
grace to others
as theft from you
THE CONCLUSION (v. 16)
│
└─► "So the LAST will be FIRST,
and the FIRST will be LAST"
│
└─► Mirrors 19:30
Completes the frame
│
└─► Who are "first" and "last"?
│
├─ FIRST workers (12 hours):
│ │
│ └─► Negotiated contract
│ Worked longest
│ Expected most
│ Grumbled at equality
│ │
│ └─► = PHARISEES / JEWS
│ Long covenant history
│ "We've served God longest!"
│ Resent equal grace to sinners
│
└─► LAST workers (1 hour):
│
└─► No contract
Trusted owner
Received equally
Grateful
│
└─► = TAX COLLECTORS / SINNERS / GENTILES
Late to kingdom
No merit to claim
Receive same grace
│
└─► Luke 15:28-32: Elder brother angry
Prodigal received feast
│
SAME DYNAMICThe Parable’s Point:
WHAT THE PARABLE TEACHES:
│
├─ NOT: "Don't work hard"
│ └─► All workers WORKED
│ Obedience still matters
│
├─ NOT: "First workers punished"
│ └─► They got what they agreed to
│ No one cheated
│
└─► IS: "Kingdom rewards = GRACE, not merit"
│
└─► All receive the SAME:
│
└─► Eternal life
Kingdom citizenship
Relationship with God
│
└─► Not proportional to:
│
├─ Years of service
├─ Amount of suffering
├─ Degree of sacrifice
└─► "Merit points"
│
└─► Deathbed convert = lifelong saint
Same eternal life
Same salvation
│
└─► Thief on cross: "Today... paradise"
(Luke 23:43)
THE SCANDAL OF GRACE:
│
└─► Grace offends merit-thinkers
│
├─ "I've been Christian 50 years!"
│ └─► Same salvation as new convert
│
├─ "I've sacrificed so much!"
│ └─► Same eternal life as comfort-living believer
│
└─► "I've earned this!"
│
└─► If you think you've EARNED it
You haven't understood GRACE
│
└─► Eph 2:8-9: "By GRACE... not of works,
lest anyone should boast"
THE APPLICATION:
│
└─► How do you respond to grace given to others?
│
├─ ELDER BROTHER: Resentment
│ └─► "Not fair they get same as me"
│
└─► RIGHT RESPONSE: Joy
└─► "Amazing that ANY receive grace"
│
└─► If angry at grace to others:
Sign you don't understand
Grace given to YOU2. Third Passion Prediction (vv. 17-19) — THE SERVANT KING’S PATH
THE SETTING (v. 17)
│
└─► "Now Jesus was going UP to Jerusalem"
│
└─► ἀναβαίνων (anabainōn) — "going up"
│
└─► Jerusalem at elevation (~2,500 ft)
Jericho below sea level
│
└─► Physical ascent
But also: theological ascent
│
└─► Going UP to:
│
├─ Temple (God's presence)
├─ Passover
└─► DEATH
│
└─► "Going up to Jerusalem"
= Going to the cross
│
└─► "On the way, he took the TWELVE aside"
│
└─► κατ᾽ ἰδίαν (kat' idian) — "privately"
│
└─► Not for crowds
For DISCIPLES
│
└─► Third time telling them
(First: 16:21, Second: 17:22-23)
THE PREDICTION (vv. 18-19)
│
└─► Most detailed passion prediction:
│
├─ "The Son of Man will be DELIVERED OVER"
│ │
│ └─► παραδοθήσεται (paradothēsetai)
│ │
│ └─► Passive: "will be handed over"
│ │
│ └─► By whom?
│ │
│ ├─ Judas (betrayal)
│ ├─ Jewish leaders (to Romans)
│ └─► Father's plan (Acts 2:23)
│ │
│ └─► "Delivered over by God's set purpose"
│
├─ "to the CHIEF PRIESTS and TEACHERS of the law"
│ │
│ └─► Jewish leadership
│ Sanhedrin
│ │
│ └─► Religious establishment
│
├─ "They will CONDEMN him to death"
│ │
│ └─► κατακρινοῦσιν (katakrinousin)
│ │
│ └─► Formal judgment
│ Sentence of death
│ │
│ └─► Fulfilled: Matt 26:66
│ "He is worthy of death"
│
├─ "will HAND HIM OVER to the Gentiles"
│ │
│ └─► τοῖς ἔθνεσιν (tois ethnesin)
│ │
│ └─► Romans
│ │
│ └─► Jews couldn't execute capital punishment
│ Under Roman rule
│ │
│ └─► John 18:31: "We have no right
│ to execute anyone"
│ │
│ └─► So: handed to Pilate
│
├─ "to be MOCKED" (ἐμπαῖξαι)
│ │
│ └─► Fulfilled: 27:27-31
│ │
│ ├─ Crown of thorns
│ ├─ Purple robe
│ ├─ "Hail, King of Jews!"
│ └─► Spit, struck
│
├─ "and FLOGGED" (μαστιγῶσαι)
│ │
│ └─► Roman scourging
│ │
│ └─► Flagellum: leather whip
│ Embedded with metal/bone
│ │
│ └─► 39 lashes (often killed victims)
│ Isa 50:6: "I gave my back to those who struck me"
│
├─ "and CRUCIFIED" (σταυρῶσαι)
│ │
│ └─► First explicit mention of crucifixion
│ │
│ └─► Previous: "take up cross" (16:24)
│ Now: "crucified"
│ │
│ └─► Roman execution method
│ Reserved for:
│ ├─ Slaves
│ ├─ Non-citizens
│ └─► Worst criminals
│ │
│ └─► Deut 21:23: "Cursed is everyone
│ hung on a tree"
│ │
│ └─► Phil 2:8: "Death on a cross"
│ Humiliation
│ Public spectacle
│ Slow agony
│
└─► "On the THIRD DAY he will be RAISED to life!"
│
└─► ἐγερθήσεται (egerthēsetai)
│
└─► Passive: "will be raised"
│
└─► By whom? FATHER
│
└─► Rom 6:4: "Christ was raised...
through glory of the Father"
│
└─► Death → Resurrection
│
└─► Third day:
│
├─ Jonah 1:17: Three days in fish
├─ Hos 6:2: "On third day he will restore"
└─► Sunday after Friday crucifixion
THE CONTRAST:
│
└─► Jesus JUST TOLD them:
│
└─► Mocked, flogged, crucified
│
└─► NEXT SCENE (vv. 20-28):
│
└─► James & John: "Give us top seats!"
│
└─► Complete tone-deafness
│
└─► He's describing suffering
They're seeking glory
│
└─► Shows: THEY DON'T GET IT YET3. James & John’s Request (vv. 20-28) — GREATNESS REDEFINED
THE REQUEST (vv. 20-21)
│
└─► "Then the mother of ZEBEDEE'S SONS came to Jesus
with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor"
│
└─► Mark 10:35: James and John ask directly
Matthew: Mother asks (perhaps more polite?)
│
└─► Either way: THEY want this
│
└─► "Zebedee's sons" = James and John
│
└─► Inner circle (with Peter)
Saw transfiguration (17:1)
│
└─► Perhaps emboldened them?
│
└─► "Kneeling" (προσκυνοῦσα)
│
└─► Worship posture
Showing great respect
│
└─► "Asked a favor"
│
└─► αἰτοῦσά τι — "asking something"
│
└─► Mark 10:35: "Teacher, we want you
to do for us whatever we ask"
│
└─► Blank check request
│
└─► Jesus: "What is it you WANT?" (v. 21a)
│
└─► τί θέλεις — "What do you wish?"
│
└─► Parallel to v. 32: "What do you want me to do?"
(To blind men)
│
└─► Same question, very different answers
THE ASK (v. 21b)
│
└─► "She said, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine
may sit at your RIGHT and the other at your LEFT
in your KINGDOM'"
│
└─► "Right and left"
│
└─► Positions of HIGHEST honor
│
├─ Right hand: chief position
│ └─► Ps 110:1: "Sit at my right hand"
│
└─► Left hand: second position
│
└─► Together: TOP TWO SPOTS
│
└─► "In your kingdom"
│
└─► They expect earthly kingdom
Jesus on throne
They as chief ministers
│
└─► STILL thinking political
STILL missing the cross
THE RESPONSE (vv. 22-23)
│
└─► "'You don't know what you are asking,'
Jesus said to THEM"
│
└─► "To them" (αὐτοῖς) — plural
│
└─► Addresses James and John directly
Not just mother
│
└─► "You don't KNOW" (οὐκ οἴδατε)
│
└─► You're ignorant of:
│
├─ What kingdom looks like
├─ What positions cost
└─► What you're really asking for
│
└─► "'Can you DRINK the CUP I am going to drink?'"
│
└─► τὸ ποτήριον (to potērion) — "the cup"
│
└─► OT background:
│
├─ Ps 75:8: "In the hand of the LORD is a cup
│ full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
│ he pours it out, and all the wicked
│ drink it down to its dregs"
│
├─ Isa 51:17: "Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem,
│ you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD
│ the cup of his wrath"
│
└─► Jer 25:15: "Take from my hand this cup
filled with the wine of my wrath"
│
└─► CUP = God's WRATH
│
└─► Jesus will drink:
│
└─► Cup of God's judgment
On behalf of sinners
│
└─► Matt 26:39: "Let this CUP pass from me"
26:42: "If this cannot pass unless I drink it"
│
└─► Gethsemane anguish
Because this cup = wrath
│
└─► "'We CAN,' they answered"
│
└─► δυνάμεθα (dynametha) — "we are able"
│
└─► Confident answer
│
└─► Did they understand?
│
└─► Probably not fully
│
└─► They thought: political suffering
They didn't know: redemptive wrath-bearing
JESUS' ANSWER (v. 23)
│
└─► "'You WILL indeed drink from my cup'"
│
└─► Prophecy fulfilled:
│
├─ JAMES: First apostle martyred
│ └─► Acts 12:2: "He had James,
│ the brother of John,
│ put to death with the sword"
│ │
│ └─► ~44 AD, by Herod Agrippa I
│
└─► JOHN: Suffered but not killed
│
└─► Tradition: Exiled to Patmos
(Rev 1:9)
│
└─► Persecution, suffering
│
└─► Both "drank cup"
(Suffering for Christ)
│
└─► "'but to sit at my right or left
is NOT FOR ME to grant.
These places belong to those for whom
they have been PREPARED by my Father'"
│
└─► Jesus defers to FATHER
│
└─► Not: "I can't decide"
IS: "Father has already decided"
│
└─► "Prepared" (ἡτοίμασται) — perfect passive
│
└─► Already arranged
│
└─► Who sits where: Father's choice
Not Jesus' to give on request
Not for jockeying disciples
THE TEN'S REACTION (v. 24)
│
└─► "When the TEN heard about this,
they were INDIGNANT with the two brothers"
│
└─► ἠγανάκτησαν (ēganaktēsan) — "became indignant"
│
└─► Same word: 26:8 — disciples indignant at woman's perfume
│
└─► Anger, irritation
│
└─► Why angry?
│
└─► NOT: "How dare they seek position!"
IS: "We wanted those seats!"
│
└─► They're not morally superior
They're JEALOUS
│
└─► All ten have same ambition
Just mad J&J asked first
│
└─► Proves: ALL need this teachingJesus’ Teaching on Greatness (vv. 25-28):
THE CONTRAST (vv. 25-26a)
│
└─► "Jesus called them together and said,
'You KNOW that the RULERS of the Gentiles
LORD IT OVER them,
and their HIGH OFFICIALS
EXERCISE AUTHORITY over them'"
│
└─► Two phrases:
│
├─ "Lord it over" (κατακυριεύουσιν)
│ │
│ └─► κατά (down) + κυριεύω (to lord)
│ │
│ └─► Exercise DOMINION over
│ Rule with power
│ TOP-DOWN authority
│
└─► "Exercise authority" (κατεξουσιάζουσιν)
│
└─► κατά (down) + ἐξουσιάζω (to have authority)
│
└─► Wield power OVER others
│
└─► This is GENTILE pattern:
│
├─ Roman emperors
├─ Client kings (like Herod)
└─► Hierarchical domination
│
└─► Power flows DOWN
From top to bottom
│
└─► "High officials" = those who...
κατά = push DOWN
│
WORLDLY MODEL:
│
└─► Great = those with power OVER others
THE KINGDOM INVERSION (vv. 26b-27)
│
└─► "'NOT SO WITH YOU'"
│
└─► οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν
"Not thus shall it be among you"
│
└─► TOTAL REJECTION of Gentile model
│
└─► Different kingdom
Different values
Different definition of greatness
│
└─► "'Instead, whoever wants to become GREAT among you
must be your SERVANT'"
│
└─► μέγας (megas) — "great"
διάκονος (diakonos) — "servant, minister"
│
└─► GREAT = SERVANT
│
└─► διάκονος: One who serves
Originally: table waiter
│
└─► Not slave (δοῦλος)
But one who serves others
│
└─► Voluntary service position
│
└─► "'and whoever wants to be FIRST
must be your SLAVE'"
│
└─► πρῶτος (prōtos) — "first"
δοῦλος (doulos) — "slave"
│
└─► FIRST = SLAVE
│
└─► Even stronger:
│
├─ Servant (διάκονος) = serves willingly
│
└─► Slave (δοῦλος) = owned completely
│
└─► No rights
No autonomy
Belongs to master
│
└─► Phil 2:7: Jesus "took form of a slave"
Same word: δούλου
THE MODEL (v. 28)
│
└─► "'just as the SON OF MAN
did not come to be SERVED,
but to SERVE,
and to give his life as a RANSOM for many'"
│
└─► Three claims:
│
├─ "Did not come to be SERVED"
│ │
│ └─► διακονηθῆναι (diakonēthēnai)
│ │
│ └─► As Son of Man (Dan 7:13-14):
│ "All nations... served him"
│ │
│ └─► ENTITLED to be served
│ But didn't come for that
│
├─ "But to SERVE"
│ │
│ └─► διακονῆσαι (diakonēsai)
│ │
│ └─► Phil 2:5-8:
│ "Made himself nothing"
│ "Taking form of servant"
│ │
│ └─► John 13: Washes disciples' feet
│ "I have set you an example"
│
└─► "to give his life as a RANSOM for many"
│
└─► λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν
│
└─► λύτρον (lytron):
│
└─► Price paid to RELEASE
│
├─ Slave from bondage
├─ Prisoner from captivity
└─► Guilty from penalty
│
└─► OT: Exod 21:30: "ransom for his life"
Num 18:15: "redeem the firstborn"
│
└─► "Give his LIFE" (ψυχή)
│
└─► His life = the payment
│
└─► Isa 53:10: "makes his life
an offering for sin"
53:12: "poured out his life unto death"
│
└─► "ἀντί" (anti) — "in place of, instead of"
│
└─► SUBSTITUTION
│
└─► His life IN PLACE OF many
│
└─► 1 Tim 2:6: "gave himself as a ransom
for all people"
│
└─► ἀντίλυτρον (antilytron)
"Substitute ransom"
│
└─► "For MANY" (πολλῶν)
│
└─► Isa 53:11: "My righteous servant
will justify MANY"
53:12: "He bore the sin of MANY"
│
└─► Not all without exception
But all without distinction
│
└─► Jews, Gentiles, all who believe
THE SUMMARY:
│
└─► SON OF MAN = SERVANT KING
│
├─ Entitled to be served
│ └─► Chose to serve
│
├─ Could demand life
│ └─► Chose to give life
│
└─► Deserved honor
└─► Chose shame
│
└─► THIS is kingdom greatness
│
└─► Not: power over others
IS: service to others
Even unto death4. Two Blind Men (vv. 29-34) — MERCY RECEIVED
THE SETTING (vv. 29-30)
│
└─► "As Jesus and his disciples were LEAVING JERICHO,
a large crowd followed him.
Two BLIND MEN were sitting by the roadside"
│
└─► Geographical note:
│
└─► Jericho → Jerusalem
│
└─► Last stop before Jerusalem
~15 miles remaining
│
└─► Uphill road through wilderness
Dangerous (Luke 10:30 - Good Samaritan)
│
└─► "Two blind men"
│
└─► Mark 10:46: Names one - "Bartimaeus"
Matthew: emphasizes TWO
│
└─► Pattern in Matthew: pairs
├─ Two demoniacs (8:28)
├─ Two blind men (9:27)
└─► Two blind men (here)
│
└─► Perhaps: two witnesses (Deut 19:15)
│
└─► "Sitting by the roadside"
│
└─► Beggars
│
└─► Blind = couldn't work
Only option: beg
│
└─► Positioned where crowds pass
Passover pilgrims = donors
THE CRY (v. 30b)
│
└─► "when they heard that Jesus was going by,
they shouted, 'Lord, SON OF DAVID,
have MERCY on us!'"
│
└─► "They heard"
│
└─► Can't see
But can HEAR
│
└─► Heard: "Jesus passing"
Knew: This is opportunity
│
└─► "Shouted" (ἔκραξαν) — "cried out"
│
└─► Strong cry
Desperate call
│
└─► PUBLIC declaration
│
└─► "SON OF DAVID"
│
└─► υἱὸς Δαυίδ
│
└─► MESSIANIC TITLE
│
└─► 2 Sam 7:12-13: Davidic promise
│
└─► Messiah = Son of David
│
└─► They recognize WHO Jesus is
│
└─► Blind physically
SEE spiritually
│
└─► Contrast: Pharisees
See physically
Blind spiritually
(John 9:39-41)
│
└─► "Have MERCY" (ἐλέησον)
│
└─► NOT: "Give us position" (James & John)
NOT: "What must I do?" (Rich ruler)
│
IS: "MERCY"
│
└─► They claim NOTHING
They deserve NOTHING
They ask for GRACE
│
└─► Proper posture for kingdom entry
THE OPPOSITION (v. 31)
│
└─► "The crowd REBUKED them and told them to be quiet"
│
└─► ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen) — "rebuked"
│
└─► Same word: disciples rebuked parents (19:13)
│
└─► GATEKEEPING again
│
└─► Crowd thinks:
│
├─ "Jesus is busy"
├─ "You're nobody"
├─ "Don't bother him"
└─► "Be quiet"
│
└─► Marginalized again
Already blind
Already begging
Now silenced
│
└─► "but they shouted ALL THE LOUDER"
│
└─► μεῖζον ἔκραξαν — "greater they cried"
│
└─► Opposition increased their volume
│
└─► Desperation
│
└─► "Lord, Son of David, have MERCY on us!"
│
└─► Same cry, LOUDER
│
└─► They will NOT be silenced
This is their ONE chance
│
└─► Persistence in asking
Luke 11:8: parable of friend at midnight
Luke 18:1-8: persistent widow
│
└─► Keep asking
THE RESPONSE (vv. 32-34)
│
└─► "Jesus STOPPED and CALLED them"
│
└─► στάς (stas) — "having stood still"
│
└─► On way to Jerusalem
On way to CROSS
Urgent mission
│
└─► Yet: STOPS
│
└─► For two nobodies
Blind beggars
│
└─► Not too busy for the broken
│
└─► "Called them"
│
└─► ἐφώνησεν (ephōnēsen)
│
└─► Mark 10:49: "Take heart... he's calling you"
│
└─► Crowd that rebuked
Now summons them
│
└─► Jesus' call changes everything
│
└─► "'What do you WANT me to do for you?' he asked"
│
└─► τί θέλετε ποιήσω ὑμῖν
│
└─► SAME QUESTION as v. 21
│
└─► To James/John's mother: "What do you want?"
To blind men: "What do you want?"
│
└─► CONTRAST in answers:
│
├─ J&J: "Positions of honor"
│ └─► Seeking glory
│
└─► Blind men: "Our sight"
└─► Seeking mercy
│
└─► "'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our SIGHT'" (v. 33)
│
└─► ἀνοιγῶσιν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἡμῶν
"That our eyes be opened"
│
└─► Simple request
Clear need
│
└─► They know what they lack
They ask for it
│
└─► "Jesus had COMPASSION on them
and TOUCHED their eyes" (v. 34a)
│
└─► σπλαγχνισθείς (splanchnistheis)
│
└─► "Moved in bowels" (seat of emotion)
│
└─► Deep compassion
│
└─► Same word:
├─ 9:36: Sheep without shepherd
├─ 14:14: Feeding 5,000
├─ 15:32: Feeding 4,000
└─► 18:27: Master who forgave debt
│
└─► Jesus' characteristic response
To human need
│
└─► "Touched their eyes"
│
└─► Physical contact
│
└─► Mark 10:52: "Your faith has healed you"
│
└─► Touch + faith = healing
│
└─► "IMMEDIATELY they received their sight
and FOLLOWED him" (v. 34b)
│
└─► εὐθέως ἀνέβλεψαν
"Immediately they saw again"
│
└─► Instant healing
Complete restoration
│
└─► "FOLLOWED him"
│
└─► ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ
│
└─► Not just physical following
DISCIPLESHIP
│
└─► Mark 10:52: "followed him on the road"
│
└─► The road to Jerusalem
The road to the cross
│
└─► They chose to go WITH Jesus
Into whatever awaits
THE PATTERN:
│
└─► RICH YOUNG RULER vs. BLIND MEN
│
├─ Ruler: "What must I DO?"
│ └─► Walked away SAD
│
└─► Blind men: "Have MERCY"
└─► Left FOLLOWING
│
└─► One kept possessions, lost Jesus
Others gained sight, followed Jesus
│
└─► Reception vs. achievement
Grace vs. merit
│
└─► Kingdom entry:
│
└─► Not what you DO
What you RECEIVEUnified Framework
MATTHEW 20 ARCHITECTURE:
│
├─ PARABLE (vv. 1-16)
│ └─► Grace over merit
│ │
│ ├─ All workers paid same
│ ├─ First grumble at equality
│ ├─ Owner: "I am generous"
│ └─► Last first, first last
│
├─ PASSION PREDICTION (vv. 17-19)
│ └─► Grace demonstrated
│ │
│ ├─ Jesus going to Jerusalem
│ ├─ To be mocked, flogged, crucified
│ └─► Third day raised
│ (Grace for undeserving)
│
├─ REQUEST & TEACHING (vv. 20-28)
│ └─► Grace misunderstood
│ │
│ ├─ J&J seek positions (merit thinking)
│ ├─ Ten indignant (same thinking)
│ ├─ Jesus: greatness = service
│ └─► Son of Man: serve, give ransom
│ (Grace modeled)
│
└─► HEALING (vv. 29-34)
└─► Grace received
│
├─ Blind men cry for mercy
├─ Opposition doesn't stop them
├─ Jesus stops, asks, heals
└─► They follow
(Grace in action)THE SINGLE THREAD:
│
└─► GRACE DISRUPTS MERIT
│
├─ Parable: Same pay disrupts "I earned more"
│
├─ Passion: Cross disrupts "I'll save myself"
│
├─ Teaching: Service disrupts "I deserve position"
│
└─► Healing: Mercy disrupts "I have nothing to offer"
│
└─► Kingdom operates on GIFT, not WAGE
│
└─► Those who get this: receive
Those who don't: grumble/leaveDiagnostic Summary
GRACE QUESTION:
│
└─► How do you respond to grace given to others?
│
├─ FIRST WORKERS: Grumble
│ └─► "Not fair they get same"
│
└─► RIGHT RESPONSE: Rejoice
└─► "Amazing anyone gets anything"
POSITION QUESTION:
│
└─► How do you seek greatness?
│
├─ JAMES & JOHN: Request positions
│ └─► "Put us at top"
│
└─► JESUS' WAY: Serve
└─► "Great = servant, First = slave"
RECEIVING QUESTION:
│
└─► How do you approach Jesus?
│
├─ RICH RULER: "What must I DO?"
│ └─► Walked away
│
└─► BLIND MEN: "Have MERCY"
└─► Followed him
THE CONTRAST:
│
├─ MERIT THINKING:
│ │
│ ├─ "I worked longer, deserve more"
│ ├─ "I've served more, deserve position"
│ └─► "I've done enough, deserve life"
│ │
│ └─► Results: Grumbling, jockeying, leaving
│
└─► GRACE RECEIVING:
│
├─ "I deserve nothing, receive equally"
├─ "I seek to serve, not be served"
└─► "I have nothing, need mercy"
│
└─► Results: Gratitude, service, followingChapter in One Sentence
The kingdom runs on grace not merit—where all receive equally from a generous owner, greatness means slavery to others, and those who cry for mercy receive sight while position-seekers miss the point entirely.
Cross-References
| Verse | Reference | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| 20:1-16 | Luke 15:25-32 | Elder brother resents grace to prodigal |
| 20:2 | Lev 19:13 | Pay wages before sunset |
| 20:8 | Deut 24:15 | Don’t withhold wages overnight |
| 20:15 | Rom 9:21 | Potter’s right over clay |
| 20:16 | Matt 19:30 | First/last frame (beginning) |
| 20:18-19 | Matt 16:21 | First passion prediction |
| 20:18-19 | Matt 17:22-23 | Second passion prediction |
| 20:19 | Isa 50:6 | Gave back to those who struck |
| 20:19 | Isa 53:5 | Wounds for our transgressions |
| 20:22 | Ps 75:8 | Cup of God’s wrath |
| 20:22 | Isa 51:17 | Cup of his fury |
| 20:22 | Matt 26:39, 42 | ”Let this cup pass” |
| 20:23 | Acts 12:2 | James martyred by Herod |
| 20:25 | Luke 22:25-26 | Gentile rulers vs. kingdom |
| 20:26-27 | Matt 23:11 | Greatest = servant |
| 20:26-27 | Mark 9:35 | First = last, servant of all |
| 20:28 | Phil 2:5-8 | Took form of servant |
| 20:28 | John 13:1-17 | Washes disciples’ feet |
| 20:28 | Isa 53:10-12 | Life as offering, bore sin of many |
| 20:28 | 1 Tim 2:6 | Ransom for all |
| 20:28 | Titus 2:14 | Gave himself to redeem us |
| 20:28 | 1 Pet 1:18-19 | Ransomed with precious blood |
| 20:30 | Matt 9:27 | Two blind men: “Son of David” |
| 20:30 | Matt 15:22 | Canaanite woman: “Son of David” |
| 20:34 | Matt 9:36 | Jesus had compassion |
| 20:34 | Matt 14:14 | Compassion, healed sick |