Bible Gateway passage: Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 - New International Version (2024)

²¹For to me, to live is Christ^(A) and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(B) and be with Christ,^(C) which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^(D) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm^(E) in the one Spirit,^[a] striving together^(F) as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you^(G) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer^(H) for him, ³⁰since you are going through the same struggle^(I) you saw^(J) I had, and now hear^(K) that I still have.

Footnotes

1. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit

Cross references

1. Philippians 1:21 : Gal 2:20
2. Philippians 1:23 : 2Ti 4:6
3. Philippians 1:23 : S Jn 12:26
4. Philippians 1:27 : S Eph 4:1
5. Philippians 1:27 : S 1Co 16:13
6. Philippians 1:27 : Jude 3
7. Philippians 1:29 : Mt 5:11, 12; Ac 5:41
8. Philippians 1:29 : S Ac 14:22
9. Philippians 1:30 : 1Th 2:2; Heb 10:32
10. Philippians 1:30 : Ac 16:19-40
11. Philippians 1:30 : ver 13

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20“For the kingdom of heaven is like^(A) a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.^{(B) 2}He agreed to pay them a denarius^[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

³“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. ⁶About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

⁷“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

⁸“When evening came,^(C) the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

⁹“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹When they received it, they began to grumble^(D) against the landowner. ¹²‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat^(E) of the day.’

¹³“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.^(F) Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’^(G)

¹⁶“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”^(H)

Footnotes

1. Matthew 20:2 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer.

Cross references

1. Matthew 20:1 : S Mt 13:24
2. Matthew 20:1 : Mt 21:28, 33
3. Matthew 20:8 : Lev 19:13; Dt 24:15
4. Matthew 20:11 : Jnh 4:1
5. Matthew 20:12 : Jnh 4:8; Lk 12:55; Jas 1:11
6. Matthew 20:13 : Mt 22:12; 26:50
7. Matthew 20:15 : Dt 15:9; Mk 7:22
8. Matthew 20:16 : S Mt 19:30