Matthew

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Matthew 20 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Matthew 20 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

(20:18-19) "And the third day he shall rise again."
Jesus tells his disciples about his impending death and resurrection. But John (20:8-9) says that the disciples had never heard any of this before Jesus' death.
Were the apostles told about Jesus' death and resurrection?

19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

(20:20-21) "Then came to him the mother of Zebedees"
Who asked Jesus for the best seats in heaven?

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

"Not mine to give"
Jesus says that he does not have the power to assign rank in heaven, but later in Matthew (28:18) Jesus says "all power is given to me in heaven."
How much power did Jesus have?
The disciples asked from Jesus something that he didn't come to give: namely earthly goods, riches and honors, see verse 21. So this verse isn't about the power Jesus had, but what he had to give: to drink of the cup of persecution, being baptized with their own blood. Those were the things they should expect in this world. Not sitting on a throne in an earthly kingdom.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

"The Son of man came ... to give his life a ransom for many."
Was Jesus a ransom for many or for all?

29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

(20:29-30) "As they departed from Jericho.. two blind men"
How many blind men were healed?
When was the man (or men) healed?
The author of the SAB asks when the blind men were healed: before or after leaving Jericho. The answer is yes and yes. Luke speaks (Luke 18:35) of a different occassion. Jesus healed a blind person before he entered Jericho. In Luke's account the blind man probably had heard that Jesus had healed blind persons before, but that Jesus was suddenly nearby was unexpected. As one may expect, this healing was widely discussed in Jericho. It seems that Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who might not have needed to beg for a living, decided to sit at the beggar's spot along the way to wait for Jesus together with a blind beggar who remains unknown to us. Mark does not say (Mark 10:46) there was but one blind person, but focuses on Bartimaeus, because his father was well-known or Bartimaeus himself became well-known among the Christians in later times. Matthew just focuses on this spot outside Jericho which might have been well-known to the Jews, Matthew's target audience.

31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.