Matthew 20

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Matthew 20
Codex Claromontanus V (f. 38r).JPG
The Latin text of Matthew 20:27-30 in Codex Claromontanus V, from 4th or 5th century
BookGospel of Matthew
CategoryGospel
Christian Bible partNew Testament
Order in the Christian part1
Gospel of
Matthew
Chapters

Matthew 20 is the twentieth chapter in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Jesus continues his final journey through Perea and Jericho, heading towards Jerusalem, which he enters in the following chapter.

Text[]

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 34 verses.

Textual witnesses[]

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter include:

Structure[]

Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus, by Johann Heinrich Stöver, 1861. Bartimaeus is not named in Matthew's narrative.

The New King James Version organises this chapter as follows:

Continuity with Matthew 19[]

The parable of the workers in the vineyard illustrates the aphorism in Matthew 19:30: Many who are first will be last, and the last first.[1] Anglican theologian E. H. Plumptre argues that "the division of the chapter is here singularly unfortunate, as separating the parable both from the events which gave occasion to it and from the teaching which it illustrates. It is not too much to say that we can scarcely understand it at all unless we connect it with the history of the young ruler who had great possessions, and the claims which the disciples had made for themselves when they contrasted their readiness with his reluctance".[2] Lutheran Pietist Johann Bengel argues, likewise, that a link is to be made with Peter's enquiry in Matthew 19:27: "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" [3]

The appointment of Jesus' twelve disciples to "sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" in "the regeneration" (Matthew 19:20–28) may also be contrasted with the request of the mother of Zebedee's children, possibly Salome, that the seats of Jesus' right and left in the kingdom of heaven to be allocated to James and John (Matthew 20:20–21).

Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard[]

Main article: Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Johann Albrecht Bengel

This parable is only related by Matthew.[4] Matthew uses the phrase "the kingdom of heaven is like ..." on 11 occasions.[5]

Verse 2[]

Now when he [the landowner] had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.[6]

Bengel notes that the landowner deals with the first group of labourers by legal contract, promising to pay an agreed sum, and with the others more by mere liberality".[3]

Verse 17[]

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road, and said to them,[7]

This verse continues the journey commenced in Matthew 19:1.[4] There are three typical readings of this verse:

Et ascendens Jesus Jerosolymam, assumpsit duodecim discipulos secreto, et ait illis:[9]

Verse 20[]

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.[10]

The mother of Zebedee's sons, James and John, is known to have been Salome, "as we learn by comparing Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40".[11] Her request is described as "ambitious".[12]

Departure from Jericho[]

Matthew's narrative portrays the healing of two blind men taking place as Jesus, his disciples and a great multitude leave Jericho, although their passage back over the River Jordan and their arrival in Jericho are not described. The Ethiopic version, uniquely, reads here "as they went out from Jerusalem".[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Expositor's Greek Testament on Matthew 20, accessed 5 February 2017
  2. ^ Plumptre, E. H., in Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers on Matthew 20, accessed 5 February 2017
  3. ^ a b Bengel, J. A., Gnomon of the New Testament on Matthew 20, accessed 28 September 2019
  4. ^ a b Meyer, H. A. W., Meyer's NT Commentary: Matthew 20, accessed 29 September 2019
  5. ^ BibleGateway.com Keyword Search, accessed 11 March 2021
  6. ^ Matthew 20:2: NKJV
  7. ^ Matthew 20:17 NKJV
  8. ^ Various readings of Matthew 20:17 at BibleGateway.com
  9. ^ Matthew 20:17: Vulgate
  10. ^ Matthew 20:20 NKJV
  11. ^ Carr, A., Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Matthew 20, accessed 30 September 2019
  12. ^ "James (New Testament)" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 15 (11th ed.). 1911.
  13. ^ Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on Matthew 20, accessed 5 February 2017

External links[]

Preceded by
Matthew 19 		Chapters of the New Testament
Gospel of Matthew 		Succeeded by
Matthew 21
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