Matthew 20 — The Son of Man Came Not To Be Ministered Unto, But To Minister
The parable of the laborers — those hired at the eleventh hour receive the same wage as those who bore the burden of the day. Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Third passion prediction. The mother of Zebedee's sons requests thrones; Jesus — to drink of the cup. The Gentile pattern of greatness inverted — whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. Two blind men outside Jericho — Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. He touches their eyes; they follow Him.
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
— Matthew 20:28
- v.1-16 The laborers in the vineyard
- v.17-19 Third passion prediction
- v.20-28 Greatness as service
- v.29-34 Two blind men of Jericho
The world's definition of greatness — exercising dominion. Christ names the pattern in order to refuse it for His disciples.
The next verse reverses it — it shall not be so among you. The kingdom's power flows opposite to the world's. The disciple does not climb; he descends, and finds the ground from which Christ reigns.
The clearest mission statement of Christ's ministry. He came to serve and to die. Greatness in the kingdom is patterned on this.
Ransom for many. The atonement's definite scope. The price was paid for a definite people — not a possibility offered to all in general, but an effective rescue for the many who are His.
The Lord asks them to name their request. He knew already; He wanted them to articulate it. Specificity in prayer is honored.
Two blind men — that our eyes may be opened (v.33). They asked exactly. The next verse — Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes. The clear ask received the immediate answer.
Verse 28 is the antidote to ambition. Whatever you would lead, lead the way He led — minister, not be ministered unto. The Christian who would be great in any kingdom must first become small in this one. Examine which way your ambition runs, and let the verse re-aim it.
The chapter's center is verse 28 — the most concentrated statement of Christ's mission. He came to serve, and to die, and to ransom. Every other theme — the vineyard's grace, the mother's ambition rebuked, the blind men's sight given — flows out of this Christ. He does not call disciples to a service He did not first perform.
The vineyard owner's reply to grumbling. God's sovereignty in distributing grace is not unjust; it is generous beyond expectation. Some are offended by His kindness to others.
Is thine eye evil, because I am good? The Lord's diagnosis of the envious heart. To resent God's mercy to the latecomer is to misread the gospel as wage.