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Matthew Chapter
Twenty
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Eyes of Those Who Followed the Lord
I. The parable of the vineyard------they cared about
the wages that they received------evil eyes (v.1-16).
II. The instruction of the way of cross------the
ignorant disciples------blind eyes (v.17-19).
III. The differences between the heavenly and earthly
kingdom------the disciples argued for status among each other------evil eyes
(v.20-28).
IV. The Lord healed two blind men------they
disregarded blocks and received mercy finally and then followed the
Lord------blind eyes were opened (v.29-34).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 20:1 “‘For
the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to
hire laborers for his vineyard.”
YLT: “`For the reign of
the heavens is like to a man
a householder
who went forth with the morning to
hire workmen for his vineyard
”
Literal Meaning: “for” shows that the
parable here is related to the reward of the kingdom in chapter 19.
“Who went out early in the morning to
hire laborers.” Concerning the working hours of the ancient Jews
a day is
counted from sunrise------six o’clock in the morning to sunset------six o’clock
in the afternoon. Therefore “early in the morning” should be six o’clock in the
morning.
Spiritual Meaning: “a landowner” is God
Himself.
“Early in the morning” There are several
kinds of explanations about the earliness and lateness of hire: 1) God hired
the prophets in the Old Testament first and then apostles in the New Testament;
2) God hired the Jews first and then the Gentiles; 3) it merely indicates the
initial
early
medium and late period of the dispensation of grace; 4)
according to one’s age to be saved
it indicates his teenage
young age
prime
of life
middle-age and old age.
“His vineyard” is a yard for grapes. In
the Old Testament it usually symbolized that
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God’s work in the universe is to plant the true
vine (John. 15:1-2)
in another word
to make them have life of God and have it
more abundantly (John. 10:10).
2) Not only the Holy Trinity work in person (See
John. 5:17
16:13) but also He calls men to work with Him (See Is. 6:8
1Cor.
3:9).
Matt. 20:2 “Now when he had agreed
with the laborers for a denarius a day
he sent them into his vineyard.”
YLT: “and having agreed
with the workmen for a denary a day
he sent them into his vineyard.”
Literal Meaning: “a denarius a day”
From this verse we could know the present wage and it is said that the wage of
a Roman soldier is a denarius a day.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1Cor.
15:58). Anything that we give for the Lord will be remembered by the Lord and
there will be reward in future.
2) “He sent them into his vineyard.” All our
service and work must be in the church and everything that is out of the church
cannot be counted as service or work.
Matt. 20:3 “And he went out about the
third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace
”
YLT: “`And having gone
forth about the third hour
he saw others standing in the market-place idle
”
Literal Meaning: “the third hour” is
nine o’clock in the morning.
“Saw others standing idle in the
marketplace.” “In the marketplace” is the place for the job-hunters usually to
wait; “standing idle” means to have nothing to do.
Spiritual Meaning: “the third hour”
Considering the age
it means the initial period of the dispensation of grace. Considering
the time when one is saved
it indicates his youth. “In the marketplace” means
in the world.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If the work we do “in the market” (the world) is
besides Christ and not related to Christ
it is only “standing idle” in God’s
sight no matter how busy we are.
2) If it is besides the will of God and is not for
the increase of the measure of Christ (plant the vineyard)
whatever we do is
“standing idle” in the Lord’s sight and is barren and unfruitful (2Pet. 1:8)
Matt. 20:4 “and said to them
‘You also go into the vineyard
and whatever is right I
will give you.' So they went.”
YLT: “and to these he
said
Go ye also ye to the vineyard
and whatever may be righteous I will give
you;”
Enlightenment in the Word: “whatever is right I will give you” The word of the
Lord is faithful and what the Lord has promised never fail (See 2Cor. 1:20)
Matt. 20:5 “Again he went out about
the sixth and the ninth hour
and did likewise.”
YLT: “and they went away.
`Again
having gone forth about the sixth and the ninth hour
he did in like
manner.”
Literal Meaning: “about the sixth and
the ninth hour
” “the six hour” means twelve o’clock at noon and “the ninth
hour” means three o’clock in the afternoon.
Spiritual Meaning: “the sixth hour”
Concerning the dispensation
in indicates the medium term of the dispensation
of grace. Concerning the time when one is saved
it means his prime of life.
“The ninth hour” Concerning the
dispensation
it means a bit later time of the dispensation of grace.
Concerning the time when one is saved
it indicates his middle age.
The Lord has called men to do His work
from ages and from generations and those who answered the Lord’s calling in
different years.
Matt. 20:6 “And about the eleventh
hour he went out and found others standing idle
and said to them
‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?'”
YLT: “And about the
eleventh hour
having gone forth
he found others standing idle
and saith to
them
Why here have ye stood all the day idle?”
Literal Meaning: “about the eleventh
hour he went out.” “The eleventh hour” means five o’clock in the afternoon.
Spiritual Meaning: “the eleventh hour”
Concerning the dispensation
it means the last period of the dispensation of
grace
i.e. the last time. Concerning the time when one is saved
it indicates
his old age.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Someone receives the grace to serve the Lord
until his old age
though he has stood idle almost his whole life (all day)
he
still gets the chance to partake in the Lord’s work.
2) God has specially tolerated us
the believers in
last time
so that we could have the chance to be saved before He comes back
(See 2Pet. 3:9). Therefore we should work diligently for yet a little while
and He that shall come will come
and will not tarry (Heb. 10:37).
Matt. 20:7 “They said to him
‘Because no one hired us.' He said to them
‘You also go into the vineyard
and whatever is right you
will receive.'”
YLT: “they say to him
Because no one did hire us; he saith to them
Go ye ye also to the vineyard
and whatever may be righteous ye shall receive.”
Enlightenment in the Word: The reason why we are called by God is not that we
are wiser
more capable or stronger than others. It is fully the grace of God
(See 1Cor. 1:26-29).
Matt. 20:8 “‘So
when evening had come
the owner of the vineyard said to his steward
‘Call the laborers and give them their wages
beginning
with the last to the first.'”
YLT: “`And evening having
come
the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward
Call the workmen
and pay
them the reward
having begun from the last unto the first.”
The
Background: in ancient time
the
working environment was unusual and those who were hired temporarily were not
assured to still have the working opportunity the next day. Therefore the wage
is given after a day’s work. According to the regulations of the Old Testament
the wage is given on his day (See Lev. 19:13
Deut. 24:15).
Literal Meaning: “when evening had
come” means that it has past the time of working and it is about six o’clock in
the evening.
Spiritual Meaning: “evening” typifies
the time when Christ comes back
i.e. the time of the kingdom of a thousand
years; “the owner” is the landowner (v.1)
i.e. Christ; “his steward” is angel;
“give them their wages” means that when the Lord comes back
He shall reward
each according to his service.
“Beginning with the last to the first”
shows that the reward in the kingdom is different from our natural and
commercial concept.
Matt. 20:9 “And when those came who
were hired about the eleventh hour
they each received a denarius.”
YLT: “And they of about
the eleventh hour having come
did receive each a denary.”
Spiritual Meaning: the workers who were
hired in the eleventh hour only worked one hour and still received the wage of
a day. It shows that the reward in the kingdom is not on the basis of men’s
work but the Lord’s grace.
Matt. 20:10 “But when the first came
they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a
denarius.”
YLT: “`And the first
having come
did suppose that they shall receive more
and they received
they
also
each a denary
”
Literal Meaning: “they supposed that
they would receive more” shows the attitude of the world: the more we pay
the
more we may receive accordingly. The more we suffer
the more wages we may be
given.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “They supposed that they would receive more”
shows the common fault of believers in service:
A. The aim of service is not purely for the glory of God but for what
one may receive.
B. Anyone with the motive to gain for himself usually compares to others
about what others have received and consequently he will feel discontented.
2) “They each received a denarius”: to those who
were hired first
it is just; to those who were hired last
it is the unlimited
grace. However if we know the spiritual value of “a denarius”
we will feel
that the Lord’s reward greatly exceeds what we are worthy to receive and He has
specially shown His grace above righteousness.
Matt. 20:11 “And when they had
received it
they complained against the landowner
”
YLT: “and having received
[it]
they were murmuring against the householder
saying
”
Matt. 20:12 “saying
‘These last men have worked only one hour
and you made
them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'”
YLT: “that These
the
last
wrought one hour
and thou didst make them equal to us
who were bearing
the burden of the day and the heat.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Who have borne the burden and the heat of the
day” shows that they feel self-satisfied in service and this situation
manifests the wrongness of their intentions (See Gen. 29:20
31:40). If our
intention of service is right
we shall make merry and rejoice because others have
received the reward together.
2) God rewards us not according to our labor but
His grace. If we serve the Lord relying on His grace
we won’t complain or feel
discontented and contrarily we will thank and praise the Lord.
3) If the aim of our service is only for the
“wage”
we will “complain”. If the aim of service is not purely for the full
Christ but one’s own gain
one must be easily ensnared and so that he shall
fell discontented in spirit.
Matt. 20:13 “But he answered one of
them and said
‘Friend
I am doing you no
wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?”
YLT: “`And he answering
said to one of them
Comrade
I do no unrighteousness to thee; for a denary
didst not thou agree with me?”
Meaning of Words: “friend”: fellow
comrade (friendly tone).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We not only come short of the glory of God for
we have sinned (Rom. 3:23) but also always do God “wrong” in service.
2) Though we always do the Lord wrong
the Lord
never does us wrong. He won’t do us wrong concerning the reward in future
because the Lord is righteous and justice is the foundation of His throne (Ps.
89:14). If He does us little wrong
it will sway His authority.
Matt. 20:14 “Take what is yours and go
your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.”
YLT: “take that which is
thine
and go; and I will to give to this
the last
also as to thee;”
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord is the one who works all things according
to the counsel of his own will (Eph. 1:11) and He likes to fully show His
grace.
Matt. 20:15 “Is it not lawful for me
to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'”
YLT: “is it not lawful to
me to do what I will in mine own? is thine eye evil because I am good?”
Meaning of Words: “evil”: the
attention of the corrupted mind.
The
Background: “bountiful eye” and
“evil eye” are proverbs with which the Jews were familiar (See Prov. 22:9
23:6
28:22).
Literal Meaning: “is your eye evil?”
“Evil eye” indicates that one is malicious because of jealousy.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord “is good” by His lordship and He shows
mercy to men according to His own will. The Lord’s grace does not go against
His righteousness and His grace exceeds His righteousness.
2) The Lord is righteous to those who think
themselves righteous------“agree me”
“I am doing you no wrong” (v.13) and
blameless. The Lord is full of grace to those who owe others------“I am good”.
3) I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy
and
I will feel compassion for whom I will feel compassion (Rom. 9:15).
4) Our eye should not be “evil” to His grace just
as we should not question His righteousness.
5) Men’s attitudes are wrong usually because their
hearts have some problem and their hearts are evil.
Matt. 20:16 “So the last will be
first
and the first last. For many are called
but few chosen.’”
YLT: “So the last shall
be first
and the first last
for many are called
and few chosen.’”
Literal Meaning: “the last will be
first
” “The last” were the workers who came last; “first” indicates to receive
the reward first.
“The first last” “The first” were the
workers who came first; “last” indicates to receive the reward last.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those who serve last receive the reward first
and those who serve first receive the reward last. Therefore receiving the
reward is not according to men’s reasoning but the Lord’s will.
2) Those who ran well (Gal. 5:7) may not have a
good end. Therefore we should be unremitting from the beginning to the end.
3) Receiving the reward of the kingdom is not
according to the length and amount of service but the intention and attitude of
service.
4) Those who partake in the service in the church
will receive the same reward whether one is first or last.
5) Those who think that they have worked hard and
performed a valuable service (“who
have borne the burden and the heat of the day” v.12) in the service and they must receive more
(“they
supposed that they would receive more”
v.10) shall be “last”.
6) The Lord appreciate those who serve Him with the
hearts of thanksgiving more than those who think that they have worked hard and
performed a valuable service.
Matt. 20:17 “Now Jesus
going up to
YLT: “And Jesus going up
to
Matt. 20:18 “‘Behold
we are going up to
YLT: “`Lo
we go up to
Literal Meaning: “they will condemn
Him to death” This shows that the death of Jesus is not the murder in secret.
He was condemned and sentenced to death through the open interrogations.
The disciples thought that the Lord
Jesus went up to
Matt. 20:19 “and deliver Him to the
Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise
again.’”
YLT: “and they shall
condemn him to death
and shall deliver him to the nations to mock
and to
scourge
and to crucify
and the third day he will rise again.’”
The
Background: “to crucify” The
crucifixion was not the usual cruel torture used by the Jews. It was used to
deal with felons (e.g. robber
murderer
traitor and etc.) by the
Literal Meaning: “and deliver Him to
the Gentiles” “The Gentiles” are the Romans. Jesus was condemned to death by
Pontius Pilate
the Roman governor and then was crucified (See Matt. 27:20-26).
“To mock and to scourge” Before being
crucified
Jesus was scourged by Pontius Pilate
the Roman governor and He was
mocked and scourged by Roman soldiers (See Matt. 27:26-31).
Spiritual Meaning: “the chief priests
and the scribes” in v.18 represent the Jews
indicating men or believers in
religious circles; “the Gentiles” in this verse indicate men in political
circles or the world. They both would become our suffering and cross.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord guided the disciples all the way and
often mentioned the cross to them (See Matt. 16:21
17:23)
showing that the
Lord’s way was pointing to the cross all the time.
2) If we could surpass the suffering of the cross
and see the glory in the resurrection
we will joyfully run the way that is set
before us fearlessly.
3) There must be suffering before glory (Rom.
8:17); the death before resurrection (1Cor. 15:36). The cross is the way for
one to be highly exalted (Pill. 2:8-9). This is the model left by the Lord
Jesus for us.
4) The more sufferings one suffers
the more consolations
of the Lord he will receive (2Cor. 1:5). The more one is delivered to death
the more the Lord’s life of resurrection will be manifested in him (2Cor.
4:11).
Matt. 20:20 “Then the mother of
Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons
kneeling down and asking something
from Him.”
YLT: “Then came near to
him the mother of the sons of Zebedee
with her sons
bowing and asking
something from him
”
Literal Meaning: “the mother of
Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons
” “Zebedee’s sons” are James and John
(See Matt. 10:2). It is said that their mother was the aunt of Jesus according
to the flesh (See John. 19:25
Mark. 15:40
Matt. 27:56).
Matt. 20:21 “And He said to her
‘What do you wish?’ She
said to Him
‘Grant that these two sons
of mine may sit
one on Your right hand and the other on the left
in Your
kingdom.’”
YLT: “and he said to her
`What wilt thou?’ She saith to him
`Say
that they may sit these my two sons
one on thy right hand
and one on the left
in thy reign.’”
Meaning of Words: “grant”: tell
say.
Literal Meaning: she asked the Lord
for her two sons to sit on the right and left hand of the Lord which are the
status second only to the Lord in the kingdom. It shows that all those who
followed the Lord at that time held that He went up to
Matt. 20:22 “But Jesus answered and
said
‘You do not know what you
ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink
and be baptized
with the baptism that I am baptized with?’
They said to Him
‘We are able.’”
YLT: “And Jesus answering
said
`Ye have not known what ye ask for yourselves; are ye able to drink of
the cup that I am about to drink? and with the baptism that I am baptized with
to be baptized?` They say to him
`We are able.’”
Literal Meaning: “the cup that I am
about to drink” “Cup” is the inheritance measured by God for us (See Ps.
16:5-6). God sent Jesus into the world to take away the sin of the world and
bear the punishments that we are supposed to take (See Is. 53:4-6). Therefore
the cup that He was about to drink was the cup of fury of God (See Matt. 26:39
Is. 51:17)
i.e. the sufferings of the cross.
“They said to Him
‘we are able’” They
said so because they did not know themselves (See Matt. 26:31
56).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many times
we do not know what we really ask in
prayers.
2) If we ask “something” from Him concerning the
status
the Lord will reprove us that
“you do not know what you ask”.
3) The problem that the Lord asked then shows that
the status in the kingdom is related to drinking the cup of the Lord. The
Lord’s cup that He was about to drink was to obey the will of God the Father
(See Matt. 26:39
42) and experience the suffering of the cross.
Matt. 20:23 “So He said to them
‘You will indeed drink 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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.’”
YLT: “And he saith to
them
`Of my cup indeed ye shall drink
and with the baptism that I am baptized
with ye shall be baptized; but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not
mine to give
but to those for whom it hath been prepared by my father.’”
Literal Meaning: “you will indeed
drink My cup” They really suffered for the sake of the Lord (See Acts. 12:1
Rev. 1:9).
“But it is for those for whom it is
prepared by My Father.” The Lord
on the status of the Son of Man here
respected the sovereignty of God the Father and put all in the hand of the
Father without His own favor and inclination.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord said that we should drink the cup and
the status is given by the Father
showing that:
a) The Lord only sought the will of the Father------He was willing to
drink the cup of the cross and disregard of His own gain or loss.
b) The Lord respected the sovereignty of the Father absolutely and put
all in the hand of the Father.
c) We should know the principle of grace that the status is not the
exchange of the cup but the reward of God.
2) Through many tribulations
we must enter into
the
Matt. 20:24 “And when the ten heard
it
they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.”
YLT: “And the ten having
heard
were much displeased with the two brothers
”
Literal Meaning: this proved that the
twelve disciples
without exception
strived with each other that who should be
held to be the greatest (Luke. 22:24). No one of them was willing to make
concessions to the others and they were jealousy and angry with each other.
Enlightenment in the Word: if we live in the flesh
we may provoke and envy
one another (See Gal. 5:19-21
26).
Matt. 20:25 “But Jesus called them to
Himself and said
‘You know that the rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them
and those who are great exercise authority over
them.”
YLT: “and Jesus having
called them near
said
‘Ye have known that the rulers of the nations do
exercise lordship over them
and those great do exercise authority over them
”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The spirit of the world likes to be the
greatest
exercise authority over others and dominate others.
2) In the earthly kingdom
all the status is to
rule others.
Matt. 20:26 “Yet it shall not be so
among you; but whoever desires to become great among you
let him be your
servant.”
YLT: “but not so shall it
be among you
but whoever may will among you to become great
let him be your
ministrant;”
Meaning of Words: “servant”: deacon
minister.
Literal Meaning: “become great”
indicates to be greater than common people.
“Servant” indicates the worker who
serves others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Yet it shall not be so among you” The world
clings to high status so as to exercise authority over others. This spirit
should never be allowed to be infiltrated into the church.
2) In the heavenly kingdom
all status is to serve
look after
edify and shepherd others (1Pet. 5:1-3
Acts. 20:28
Eph. 4:11).
3) Seriously
in the kingdom (church)
there is no
difference in status
but there are differences in gifts
administrations and
operations (Rom. 12:4
1Cor. 12:4-6).
4) In the kingdom
the greater one is
the less
freedom he has. On the other side
the more one humbles oneself and suffers
the less the will of freedom he has and the greater he will be manifested.
5) “Servant” is the same with “minister” in the
original------the minister in the church is service-oriented.
Matt. 20:27 “And whoever desires to be
first among you
let him be your slave--”
YLT: “and whoever may
will among you to be first
let him be your servant;”
Literal Meaning: “be first”:
foremost; “slave”: a bondman who has lost his decision-making power.
Matt. 20:28 “just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served
but to serve
and to give His life a ransom for
many.’”
YLT: “even as the Son of
Man did not come to be ministered to
but to minister
and to give his life a
ransom for many.’”
Literal Meaning: “a ransom for many”
In the original
the word “a” here is used to stress on the nature of
redemption of Christ’s death. “Many
” Christ gave Himself a ransom for all
(1Tim. 2:6); the salvation is for “all” but only “few” (i.e. “believers”) have
received. According to its usage in the original
“ransom” is the money used to
redeem slaves. In like manner
Christ gave His life as a ransom and released us
from the bondage of sin.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Just as the Son of Man did come” shows that the
Lord was not gabbing: only demand others and do not demand Himself. The Lord
set a good example with His conduct. Those who are spiritual leaders in the
church have to match their words with deeds.
2) The Lord is originally the greatest
however
He
did not come to be served
but to serve and even gave His life to others (Mark.
10:45
Pill. 2:8) so that many will be saved.
3) The Lord wanted us to learn from His example: do
not mind status and serve men with whole heart. And our highest and greatest
service is to let our “selves” be crucified.
Matt. 20:29 “Now as they went out of
YLT: “And they going
forth from
The
Background: “now as they went
out of
“
Matt. 20:30 “And behold
two blind men
sitting by the road
when they heard that Jesus was passing by
cried out
saying
‘Have mercy on us
O Lord
Son of David!’”
YLT: “and lo
two blind
men sitting by the way
having heard that Jesus doth pass by
cried
saying
`Deal kindly with us
sir Son of David.’”
Literal Meaning: “two blind men
sitting by the road” In the Gospels of Mark and Luke “a blind man” was recorded
and in the Gospel of Mark his name “Bartimaeus” was mentioned (See Mark. 10:46
Luke. 18:35). Probably because the attitude of Bartimaes is more positive and
he was mentioned in two Gospels. The Gospel of Matthew is to testify that Jesus
is the Son of David
the Messiah and therefore “two” blind men were mentioned
because “two” in the Bible means testimony.
“The Son of David” is used by the Jews
to call the Messiah. They hoped that the Messiah would come
save them and
remove them from the suffering of the world (See Is. 9:7
Jer. 23:5-6).
Spiritual Meaning: shortly after the disciples wanted to be the
greatest
the book recorded the case that the Lord healed the two blind men.
This description has its spiritual meaning. In other words
two blind men
represent the disciples. Because the disciples were blind
they did not know
the things of the
“Blind” means that one
without
enlightenment and revelation
does not know God and himself.
“Sitting by the road”: the life does not
grow and it is at a standstill.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Following the Lord is the way for one to be
blessed. However men are unable to follow the Lord because of blindness. They
cannot choose but sit by the road. This is a picture of men’s state that they
are poor in darkness.
2) Thank the Lord! He makes us hear the gospel and
know that He is “Jesus” (it means “Jehovah the salvation” and “the salvation of
Jehovah” in the original) and the Son of David (it means that He is the coming
Messiah). Therefore we cry out to Him.
3) Though the blind men had not seen the Lord
they
had “heard” Him and immediately they cried out to the Lord that their eyes may
be opened (See v.33). When reading the Bible
we may not suddenly receive the
enlightenment and understand the Lord’s words. We receive the revelation after
we hear the Lord’s words first and cry out to the Lord for enlightenment.
Matt. 20:31 “Then the multitude warned
them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more
saying
‘Have mercy on us
O Lord
Son of David!’”
YLT: “And the multitude
charged them that they might be silent
and they cried out the more
saying
`Deal kindly with us sir Son of David.’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The prayer of seeking the sight usually may be
forbidden by men. However the more one is forbidden
the more urgently he asks.
In this way he will be blessed.
2) If one seeks revelation in prayer
one should
seek urgently regardless of all the difficulties and blocks. In this way there
will be a result.
Matt. 20:32 “So Jesus stood still and
called them
and said
‘What do you want Me to do
for you?’”
YLT: “And having stood
Jesus called them
and said
`What will ye [that] I may do to you?’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “What do you want Me to do for you?” There must
be a clear aim in prayer.
2) Our prayers are usually common
aimless. We may
ask amiss (James. 4:3) and we do not know what we ask (See v.22) and therefore
our prayers cannot be answered.
Matt. 20:33 “They said to Him
‘Lord
that our eyes may be opened.’”
YLT: “they say to him
`Sir
that our eyes may be opened;’”
Enlightenment in the Word: it is the beginning of running the heavenly way to
ask one’s eyes to be opened (2Cor. 4:6
Eph. 1:18
Acts. 26:18).
Matt. 20:34 “So Jesus had compassion
and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight
and they
followed Him.”
YLT: “and having been
moved with compassion
Jesus touched their eyes
and immediately their eyes
received sight
and they followed him.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Originally the two blind men “sat by the road”
(See v.30)
their eyes were opened now and then followed the Lord on the way.
If one wants to run the way
he has to receive sight first.
2) The true “touching” brings in the true “sight”
and then the true “sight” brings in the true “following”.
3) Blind ones do not know the preciousness of the
Lord and therefore they care about wage and status (See v.12
21). However
if
one’s eyes of heart are opened
he will regard the Lord as excellent
suffer
the loss of all for Him (Pill. 3:8) and follow the Lord on the way of cross
willingly.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Relation among
the King
the Kingdom and Service
I. The relation between service and the
reward of the kingdom of heaven:
A. The Lord called
men to work into the kingdom of heaven (v.1-7).
B. When the Lord
comes back
He will reward each (v.8-16).
II. The relation between service and the
status of the kingdom:
A. The example of the king------He was delivered to mock
to scourge and
to crucify and He will rise again (v.17-19).
B. The disciples strived with each other that who should be held to be
the greatest (v.20-24).
C. The status of the kingdom is not to exercise authority but to serve
(v.25-28).
III. The true service in the kingdom lies in
the opening of the eyes of hearts:
A. The difficulties of service for men are due to blindness------evil
eyes (v.15).
B. Because of blindness the disciples also strived with each other that
who should be held to be the greatest (v.20-24).
C. One is able to follow the Lord on the way of cross until his eyes are
opened (v.29-34).
The Example and
Warning of the Lord’s Workers
I. Three kinds of workers (v.1-16):
A. Workers who work for wages------those who were hired “early in the
morning”.
B. Workers who are not particular about wages------those who were hired
in “the third hour
the sixth and ninth hour”.
C. Workers who work with thanksgiving------those who were hired in “the
eleventh hour”.
II. The example of workers:
A. He was willing to take up the cross and provide the life of
resurrection (v.17-19).
B. He did not come to be served
but to serve (v.28).
III. The warning of workers:
A. They sought the high status wholeheartedly and did not know
themselves (v.20-23).
B. They did not submit to others and wanted to be great and first
instead of servants or slaves of others (v.24-27).
IV. The training of workers (v.29-34):
A. They confessed that they were blind and only the Lord was able to
heal them.
B. They still cried out unremittingly though they were confronted with
blocks.
C. They were healed by the Lord and received sight and then followed the
Lord to the end.
The
Vineyard------the Work of the
I. The work of the kingdom of needs men’s
cooperation------a landowner hired laborers (v.1-2).
II. The work of the kingdom is so large that
a large number of workers are needed------the landowner went out to hire
laborers about the third
the six
the ninth and the eleventh hour (v.1-6).
III. The work of the kingdom has its
realm------into the vineyard (v.1
4
7).
IV. There is righteous reward in the kingdom
of heaven------they had agreed and the landowner did the workers no wrong (v.2
13).
V. There is unlimited grace in the kingdom
of heaven------what I wish…I am good (v. 14-15).
VI. The workers of the kingdom of heaven are
like those who run in race-course------the last will be first
and the first
last (v.16
See 1Cor. 9:24).
The Status in the
I. Those who ask the status in the kingdom
of heaven do not know what they ask (v.20-22a).
II. Before receiving the status of the
kingdom of heaven
one has to drink the “cup” (v.22b-23a).
III. The status of the kingdom of heaven: it
is for those for whom it is prepared by the Father (v.23b).
IV. The status in the world is that those
who are great exercises authority over those who are low; the status in the
kingdom of heaven is not so (v.24-25a).
V. The status of the kingdom of heaven is
that whoever desires to be great or first
let him be servant and slave for all
(v. 25b-27).
VI. The status of the kingdom of heaven is
not to be served by others but to serve others (v.28a).
VII. The status of the kingdom of heaven is
to “give his life” to serve men (v.28b).
Two Blind Men
Received Sight
I. The pity of blind men------they sat by
the road (v.30).
II. The gospel of blind men------they heard
that Jesus was passing by (v.30).
III. The reaction of blind men------they
cried out
saying (v.30).
IV. The persistence of blind men------they
cried out all the more (v.31).
V. The demand of blind men------our eyes may
be opened (v.33).
VI. The healing of blind
men------Jesus…touched their eyes
immediately their eyes received sight
(v.34).
VII. The way of blind men------they followed
Jesus (v.34).
The Reason Why Blind
Men Received Mercy
I. They seized the chance------when they
heard that Jesus was passing by
they cried out
saying… (v.30).
II. They disregarded the blocks------the
multitude warned them that they should be quiet
but they cried all the more
saying… (v.31).
III. They asked directly------they said to
Him
“Lord
that our eyes may be opened” (v.33).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren