Matthew – Gospel 20 – You Shall Drink From My Cup

“For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards. 2 He agreed with the laborers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard. 3 On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the market-place, doing nothing. 4 ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’”

5 “So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o’clock, he did as before. 6 When he went out about five, he found some other men standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?’ 7 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said.”

8 “In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward ‘Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first. 9 Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two shillings each. 10 So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two shillings each; 11 On which they began to grumble at their employer. 12 ‘These last,’ they said, ‘have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.’”

13 “‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings? 14 Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?’ 16 So those who are last will be first, and the first last.”

17 When Jesus was at the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way: 18 “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law, and they will condemn him to death, 19 And give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.”

20 Then the mother of Zebediah’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor. 21 “What is it that you want?” he asked. “I want you to say,” she replied, “that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.”
22 “You do not know what you are asking,” was Jesus’ answer. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?” “Yes,” they exclaimed, “we can.” 23 “You shall indeed drink from my cup,” he said, “but as to a seat at my right and at my left, that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers. 25 Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said: “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their great men oppress them. 26 Among you it is not so. 27 No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave; 28 Just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

29 As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men, who were sitting by the road-side, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!” 31 The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!” 32 Then Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he said. 33 “Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.” 34 So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.

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To read the next chapter of the Book of Matthew, please go to The Gospel of Matthew – 21.

This Online New Testament Gospel of Matthew is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

Challenge your perceptions on the Gospel of Christ, Jesus’s parables, and the Kingdom of God by purchasing The Lord’s Prayer book today. Produced by LivingHour.org, a Thailand-based small press dedicated to publishing unique Learn Thai Language books and eBooks, as well as works on progressive spirituality.

Matthew – Gospel 22 – Christ is Not the Son of David

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables. 2 “The kingdom of heaven,” he said, “may be compared to a king who gave a banquet in honor of his son’s wedding. 3 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they were unwilling to come. 4 A second time he sent some servants, with orders to say to those who had been invited: ‘I have prepared my breakfast, my cattle and fat beasts are killed, and everything is ready; come to the banquet.’ 5 They, however, took no notice, but went off, one to his farm, another to his business; 6 While the rest, seizing his servants, ill-treated them and killed them.”

7 “The king, in anger, sent his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire. 8 Then he said to his servants: ‘The banquet is prepared, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 So go to the cross-roads, and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 The servants went out into the roads and collected all the people whom they found, whether bad or good; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests.

11 But, when the king went in to see his guests, he noticed there a man who had not put on a wedding-robe. 12 So he said to him ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding-robe?’ The man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants: ‘Tie him hand and foot, and ‘put him out into the darkness’ outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’14 For many are called, but few chosen.”

15 Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation. 16 They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of anyone; for you pay no regard to a man’s position. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?”

18 Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered: “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin with which the tax is paid.” And, when they had brought him a florin, 20 He asked: “Whose head and title are these?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they answered; on which he said to them: “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went away.

23 That same day the Sadducees, who believed there was no resurrection, came up to Jesus. Their question was this: 24 “Teacher, Moses said: ‘Should a man die without children, the man’s brother shall become the husband of the widow, and raise a family for his brother.’ 25 Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and the third brothers, and indeed to all the seven. 27 The woman herself died last of all. 28 At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be out of the seven, all of them having had her?”

29 “Your mistake,” replied Jesus, “is due to your ignorance of the scriptures, and of the power of God. 30 For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in heaven. 31 As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of dead men, but of living.”

33 The crowds, who had been listening to him, were greatly struck by his teaching. 34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a student of the law, to test him, asked this question: 36 “Teacher, what is the great commandment in the law?” 37 His answer was: “‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ 38 This is the great first commandment. 39 The second, which is like it, is this: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

41 Before the Pharisees separated, Jesus put this question to them: 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “David’s,” they said. 43 “How is it, then,” Jesus replied, “that David, speaking under inspiration, calls him ‘lord,’ in the passage: 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I put thy enemies beneath thy feet”‘? 45 Since, then, David calls him ‘lord,’ how is he David’s son?” 46 No one could say a word in answer; nor did anyone after that day venture to question him further.

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To read the next chapter of the Book of Matthew, please go to The Gospel of Matthew – 23.

This Online New Testament Gospel of Matthew is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

Challenge your perceptions on the Gospel of Christ, Jesus’s parables, and the Kingdom of God by purchasing The Lord’s Prayer book today. Produced by LivingHour.org, a Thailand-based small press dedicated to publishing unique Learn Thai Language books and eBooks, as well as works on progressive spirituality.

Mark – 10 – The Camel, Eye of a Needle, & The Rich Man

On leaving that place, Jesus went into the district of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Crowds gathered about him again; and again, as usual, he began teaching them. 2 Presently some Pharisees came up and, to test him, asked: “Has a husband the right to divorce his wife?” 3 “What direction did Moses give you?” replied Jesus. 4 “Moses,” they said, “permitted a man to ‘draw up in writing a notice of separation and divorce his wife.’”

5 “It was owing to the hardness of your hearts,” said Jesus, “that Moses gave you this direction; 6 But, at the beginning of the Creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, 8 And the man and his wife shall become one;’ so that they are no longer two, but one. 9 What God himself, then, has yoked together man must not separate.”

10 When they were indoors, the disciples asked him again about this, 11 And he said: “Any one who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against his wife; 12 And, if the woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she is guilty of adultery.”

13 Some of the people were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them. 14 When, however, Jesus saw this, he was indignant. “Let the little children come to me,” he said, “do not hinder them; for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 I tell you, unless you receive the kingdom of God like a child, you will not enter it at all.” 16 Then he folded the children in his arms, and, placing his hands on them, gave them his blessing.
17 And, as Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to gain immortal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not say what is false about others. Do not cheat. Honor thy father and thy mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he replied, “I have observed all these from my childhood.”

21 Jesus looked at the man, and his heart went out to him, and he said: “There is still one thing wanting in you; go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall heave wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.” 22 But the man’s face clouded at these words, and he went away distressed, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked round, and said to his disciples: “How hard it will be for men of wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again: “My children, how hard a thing it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to get through a eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 “Then who can be saved?” they exclaimed in the greatest astonishment. 27 Jesus looked at them, and answered: “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God.”

28 “But we,” began Peter, “we left everything and have followed you.” 29 “I tell you,” said Jesus, “there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, on my account and on account of the gospel, 30 Who will not receive a hundred times as much, even now in the present—houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land—though not without persecutions, and, in the age that is coming, immortal life. 31 But many who are first now will then be last, and the last will be first.”

32 One day, when they were on their way, going up to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in front of the apostles, who were filled with misgivings; while those who were following behind were alarmed. Gathering the twelve round him once more, Jesus began to tell them what was about to happen to him.

33 “Listen!” he said. “We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and they will condemn him to death, and they will give him up to the Gentiles, 34 Who will mock him, spit upon him, and scourge him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again.”

35 James and John, the two sons of Zebediah, went to Jesus, and said: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 “Grant us this,” they answered, “to sit, one on your right, and the other on your left, when you come in glory.” 38 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink? or receive the baptism that I am to receive?” 39 “Yes,” they answered, “we can.” “You shall indeed drink the cup that I am to drink,” Jesus said, “and receive the baptism that I am to receive, 40 But as to a seat at my right or at my left, that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 On hearing of this, the ten others were at first very indignant about James and John. 42 But Jesus called the ten to him, and said: “Those who are regarded as ruling among the Gentiles lord it over them, as you know, and their great men oppress them. 43 But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 And whoever wants to take the first place among you must be the servant of all; 45 For even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

46 They came to Jericho. When Jesus was going out of the town with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road-side. 47 Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to call out: “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me.” 48 Many of the people kept telling him to be quiet; but the man continued to call out all the louder: “Son of David, take pity on me.”

49 Then Jesus stopped. “Call him,” he said. So they called the blind man. “Courage!” they exclaimed. “Get up; he is calling you.” 50 The man threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” said Jesus, addressing him. “Rabboni,” the blind man answered, “I want to recover my sight.” 52 “You may go,” Jesus said; “your faith has delivered you.” Immediately he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus along the road.

To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to The Gospel of Mark – 11.

This Online New Testament Gospel of Mark is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

Challenge your perceptions on the Gospel of Christ, Jesus’s parables, and the Kingdom of God by purchasing The Lord’s Prayer book today. Produced by LivingHour.org, a Thailand-based small press dedicated to publishing unique Learn Thai Language books and eBooks, as well as works on progressive spirituality.