Matthew 20:1 - Plain English Version

¹ Jesus said to his followers, “This picture story is about the people that will be in God’s family. There was a man that owned a garden, and he wanted some work-men to get a job finished in one day. So he went out early in the morning, to the place in the town where men waited around looking for a job.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹ FOR THE kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

¹ “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹ "The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:1 Cross References

Matthew 13:24

Then Jesus told the people another picture story. He said, “This story shows you something about God’s family. A farmer planted some good food seeds in his garden.

Matthew 13:47

Then Jesus said, “This is another picture story that shows you about God’s family. Some fishermen threw their fishing net into the water and caught a lot of fish in it. There were all sorts of fish in that net.

Matthew 20:2

He talked to the men there, and they agreed to work for him. He agreed to give them the right pay, the pay that men always get for a day’s work. Then he sent them to work in his garden.

Matthew 21:28

Jesus talked to the Jewish leaders. He said, “Tell me what you think about this picture story. A man had 2 sons. He went to the oldest son and said, ‘Son, go and work on our farm today.’

Matthew 25:1

Jesus said to his followers, “This picture story is about what will happen in God’s family, at the time when I come back from heaven. There were some young women that had a special job at a wedding ceremony. When the man getting married came to the house, they had to meet him, and they had to bring him into the house. Then they were all going to eat a big dinner with that man and his new wife. That wedding was at night time, so the young women had their oil lamps with them.

Matthew 3:2

He said, “Listen. God is going to show everyone how they can be in his family. So you have to stop doing bad things. You have to turn around and live God’s way.”

Mark 13:34

Listen to this picture story. A man wanted to go to stay in another place for a while, so he told his workers to look after everything at his house while he was away. He told each one of them to do their own jobs. He said to the guard at the gate, ‘Keep looking out to see me coming back.’

John 15:1

Jesus told his followers a picture story about a plant that grapes grow on. It is called a grape vine. Jesus said, “I am like a good grape vine, growing in a garden. And God, my father, is like the gardener.

1 Corinthians 15:58

So always remember those things, my Christian friends. I love you, and I want you to stay strong for God. Don’t let anything take you away from him. Keep on working hard for our leader Jesus. Remember, he will help you, so that everything you do with him will be good. It will not be useless.