Matthew 20 opens with one of Jesus’s most provocative parables - workers hired at dusk receiving the same wage as those who labored through the scorching heat of the day - and closes with the declaration that redefines greatness in the Kingdom of God.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man Who was the master of a household Who went out early in the morning To hire labourers for his vineyard
When he had agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day He sent them into his vineyard He went out about the third hour and the sixth and the ninth hour And did likewise About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle Why do you stand here all day idle? Because no one has hired us You also go into the vineyard
When evening had come The lord of the vineyard said to his manager Call the labourers and pay them their wages Beginning from the last to the first
When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came They each received a denarius When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more And they likewise each received a denarius They murmured against the master of the household These last have spent one hour
And you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden Of the day and the scorching heat But he answered one of them, Friend I am doing you no wrong Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? Take that which is yours and go your way It is my desire to give to this last Just as much as to you
Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to With what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good? So the last will be first and the first last For many are called, but few are chosen
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem He took the twelve disciples aside Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem The Son of Man will be delivered To the chief priests and scribes They will condemn him to death
And will hand him over to the Gentiles To mock, to scourge, and to crucify The third day he will be raised up Whoever desires to become great amongst you Shall be your servant Whoever desires to be first amongst you Shall be your bondservant
The Son of Man came not to be served But to serve And to give his life as a ransom for many The last will be first The last will be first
Listen
Matthew 20 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.