(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Parable of the Worker’s Pay
- “For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man – a master of a house – who at dawn immediately went out to hire workmen for his vineyard.
- “And having agreed with the workmen to pay a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
- “And having gone out about the third hour,1“The third hour”, the Jews counted hours from dawn, which was typically around 6:00 in the morning. Therefore, “the third hour” is about 9:00am. he saw other workmen *standing idle in the marketplace.
- “And he told those men: “You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.”
- “And they went. And having gone out again about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did the same thing again.
- “And having gone out at about the eleventh hour, he found other workmen *standing idle. And he says to them: “Why have you stood here idle all day?
- “They tell him: “Because no one hired us.” He tells them: “You also go into the vineyard. [And you will receive whatever is right.]
- “And when it became evening, the master of the vineyard says to his foreman: “Call the workmen and pay them their wage, beginning from the last, up to the first.
- “And having come forward, the men hired about the eleventh hour received a denarius each.
- “And having come forward, the men hired first assumed that they would receive more, but they also received a denarius each.
- “And having received it, they were grumbling against the master of the house,
- “saying: “These last men only worked one hour, and you made them equal to us: the men who bore the whole day’s burden and the scorching heat.”
- “But answering one of them, he said: “Friend,2“Friend” this Greek word is only used three times on the Bible. All of them are in Matthew, and all are in the sense of a false friend. One lexicon says it refers to someone posing as a friend, but who really has their own interests in mind. I don’t wrong or hurt3“wrong or hurt” is one word in Greek, and can mean either or both depending on the context you. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius?”
- “Take what’s yours and go. But I wish to give this last man the same as you.
- “Or, isn’t it lawful for me to do what I desire with what’s mine? Or, is your eye evil with greed4“eye evil with greed” the phrase “evil eye” is an idiom which means “to be stingy” or “to be greedy”. See also, Matthew 6:23. because I’m generous?”
- “In this way, the last will be first, and the first last. [for many are called, but few are chosen.]
Jesus Predicts His Death again
- And going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and He told them on the way: “Behold,
- “we go up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death.
- And they will hand Him over to the gentiles to mock, and to flog, and to crucify; and on the third day He will be raised again.
The Greatest in the Kingdom
- Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Him with her sons, bowing down at His feet5“bowing down at his feet” is one word in Greek, often translated “worship”. It comes from the Greek words: “pros” (meaning “towards”) and “kyneo” (meaning “to kiss”). It literally refers to bowing down on your hands and knees and kissing the ground in front of a superior or authority figure. Some Egyptian pictographs have the hand outstretched, as if to send the “kiss” toward the one being revered. and asking something from Him.
- And He said to her: “What do you desire?” She says to Him: “Say that in your kingdom, these two sons of mine might sit down with one at your right hand, and one at your left hand.”
- But answering, Jesus said to them: “You don’t *know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I’m about to drink? [Or to be baptized in the baptism that I’m baptized?] They tell Him: “We are able.”
- He tells them: “Indeed, you will drink My cup [and you will be baptized in the baptism that I’m baptized.] But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand: this isn’t Mine to give. But that’s for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
- And having heard this, the ten were indignant about the two brothers.
- And having summoned them, Jesus said: “You *know that the rulers of the gentiles exercise authority over them, and their great men dominate them.
- “It shall not be this way among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, he will be your servant.
- “And whoever desires to be first among you, he will be your slave,
- “just as the Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a purchase price6“purchase price” this Greek word often referred to the price required to buy a slave’s freedom. for many.”
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
- And while departing from Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.
- And having heard that Jesus is passing by, behold: two blind men sitting along the road cried out saying: “Lord, have mercy on us Son of David.”7“Son of David” was a title of the promised messiah in Jewish eyes. This stems from 2 Samuel 7:12-13, in which God promised David would have a descendant who would sit on the throne forever. This could be construed as an act of faith by the blind men.
- But the crowd scolded them so they might be silent, but they cried out louder, saying: “Lord, have mercy on us Son of David.”
- And having stopped, Jesus called them and said: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
- They say to Him: “Lord, we ask that our eyes might be opened.”
- and having been moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes and at once they recovered their sight, and they followed Him.
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