Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Here is the rewritten chapter in natural paragraphs:

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was an employer. He went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a day's wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

As the day wore on, he kept coming back to the marketplace and found more people standing idle. So he invited them to join the others in the vineyard, promising that they would receive what was right. He did this at the third hour, again at the sixth hour, and once more at the ninth hour. Finally, about the eleventh hour, he went out one last time and found a few people still standing around.

"Why are you just standing there all day idle?" he asked them. They explained that no one had hired them yet. "Go also into the vineyard," he said. "And you will receive whatever is right." When evening came, the lord of the vineyard gave instructions to his steward: "Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with those who were last hired."

As the laborers received their pay, they were surprised that everyone - including the ones who had worked only one hour - got paid a penny. The first group, who had worked all day in scorching heat, grumbled among themselves: "These latecomers have worked for only an hour and yet are being treated equally to us!" But the employer simply replied, "I did not cheat you. We agreed on a penny, didn't we? Take it and go."

When he looked at them with compassion, one of them asked, "Is it lawful for you to treat me unfairly just because I'm good?" The employer's response was straightforward: "It is my own money, and I can do what I want with it." He added, "Many are called, but few are chosen."

As Jesus continued on his journey to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and shared with them a solemn warning. In Jerusalem, he would be betrayed by the chief priests and scribes, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, and crucified. But on the third day, he would rise again.

At that point, Jesus' mother came up to him with her two sons - James and John - who were among his disciples. She bowed down before him and asked for a special favor: "Command these two sons of mine to sit at your right and left in your kingdom." But Jesus was not pleased with this request. He told them, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you prepared to drink from the same cup I will drink from and be baptized with the same baptism I am experiencing?" They confidently replied, "We are able."

Jesus then said, "You shall indeed share my cup and undergo the same baptism, but as for sitting at my right hand or left, that is not up to me to decide. It has been prepared by my Father for those he has chosen." The other ten disciples were furious when they heard about this conversation.

But Jesus immediately addressed their anger, saying, "You know how rulers of the Gentiles exercise power over others and their leaders exert authority? That's not how it is among you. Instead, anyone who wants to become great must be a servant - willing to serve others without expecting anything in return."

Jesus continued, "As the Son of Man came into this world, he didn't come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples, a large crowd followed him. Along the way, two blind men sat by the side of the road and heard that Jesus was passing by. They cried out in desperation: "Lord, have mercy on us! You son of David!"

The people around them scolded the blind men to be quiet, but they only grew louder, shouting: "Have mercy on us, Lord! You son of David!" Jesus stopped and called out to them, asking what they wanted him to do for them. They replied, "We want our eyes opened." Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and instantly they were able to see. And so they followed him along the road.