---
title: "Matthew 20 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/matthew/20/
description: "The parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The ambition of the two sons of… Matthew 20 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Matthew 20

Matthew 20 is chapter 20 of 28 in the Gospel of Matthew. Here are all 34 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The ambition of the two sons of Zebedee. Christ gives sight to two blind men.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Matthew 20 (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.
2. Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
4. And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.’
5. So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly.
6. Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’
7. They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.’
8. And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.’
9. And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius.
10. Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius.
11. And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family,
12. saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.’
13. But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius?
14. Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to you.
15. And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?’
16. So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
17. And Jesus, ascending to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside in private and said to them:
18. “Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be handed over to the leaders of the priests and to the scribes. And they shall condemn him to death.
19. And they shall hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified. And on the third day, he shall rise again.”
20. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him, with her sons, adoring him, and petitioning something from him.
21. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these, my two sons, may sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”
22. But Jesus, responding, said: “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the chalice, from which I will drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”
23. He said to them: “From my chalice, indeed, you shall drink. But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to give to you, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24. And the ten, upon hearing this, became indignant with the two brothers.
25. But Jesus called them to himself and said: “You know that the first ones among the Gentiles are their rulers, and that those who are greater exercise power among them.
26. It shall not be this way among you. But whoever will want to be greater among you, let him be your minister.
27. And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant,
28. even as the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a redemption for many.”
29. And as they were departing from Jericho, a great crowd followed him.
30. And behold, two blind men, sitting by the way, heard that Jesus was passing by; and they cried out, saying, “Lord, Son of David, take pity on us.”
31. But the crowd rebuked them to be quiet. But they cried out all the more, saying, “Lord, Son of David, take pity on us.”
32. And Jesus stood still, and he called them and said, “What do you want, that I might do for you?”
33. They said to him, “Lord, that our eyes be opened.”
34. Then Jesus, taking pity on them, touched their eyes. And immediately they saw, and they followed him.

## Matthew 20 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Simile est regnum cælorum homini patrifamilias, qui exiit primo mane conducere operarios in vineam suam.
2. Conventione autem facta cum operariis ex denario diurno, misit eos in vineam suam.
3. Et egressus circa horam tertiam, vidit alios stantes in foro otiosos,
4. et dixit illis: Ite et vos in vineam meam, et quod justum fuerit dabo vobis.
5. Illi autem abierunt. Iterum autem exiit circa sextam et nonam horam: et fecit similiter.
6. Circa undecimam vero exiit, et invenit alios stantes, et dicit illis: Quid hic statis tota die otiosi?
7. Dicunt ei: Quia nemo nos conduxit. Dicit illis: Ite et vos in vineam meam.
8. Cum sero autem factum esset, dicit dominus vineæ procuratori suo: Voca operarios, et redde illis mercedem incipiens a novissimis usque ad primos.
9. Cum venissent ergo qui circa undecimam horam venerant, acceperunt singulos denarios.
10. Venientes autem et primi, arbitrati sunt quod plus essent accepturi: acceperunt autem et ipsi singulos denarios.
11. Et accipientes murmurabant adversus patremfamilias,
12. dicentes: Hi novissimi una hora fecerunt, et pares illos nobis fecisti, qui portavimus pondus diei, et æstus.
13. At ille respondens uni eorum, dixit: Amice, non facio tibi injuriam: nonne ex denario convenisti mecum?
14. Tolle quod tuum est, et vade: volo autem et huic novissimo dare sicut et tibi.
15. Aut non licet mihi quod volo, facere? an oculus tuus nequam est, quia ego bonus sum?
16. Sic erunt novissimi primi, et primi novissimi. Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.
17. Et ascendens Jesus Jerosolymam, assumpsit duodecim discipulos secreto, et ait illis:
18. Ecce ascendimus Jerosolymam, et Filius hominis tradetur principibus sacerdotum, et scribis, et condemnabunt eum morte,
19. et tradent eum gentibus ad illudendum, et flagellandum, et crucifigendum, et tertia die resurget.
20. Tunc accessit ad eum mater filiorum Zebedæi cum filiis suis, adorans et petens aliquid ab eo.
21. Qui dixit ei: Quid vis? Ait illi: Dic ut sedeant hi duo filii mei, unus ad dexteram tuam, et unus ad sinistram in regno tuo.
22. Respondens autem Jesus, dixit: Nescitis quid petatis. Potestis bibere calicem, quem ego bibiturus sum? Dicunt ei: Possumus.
23. Ait illis: Calicem quidem meum bibetis: sedere autem ad dexteram meam vel sinistram non est meum dare vobis, sed quibus paratum est a Patre meo.
24. Et audientes decem, indignati sunt de duobus fratribus.
25. Jesus autem vocavit eos ad se, et ait: Scitis quia principes gentium dominantur eorum: et qui majores sunt, potestatem exercent in eos.
26. Non ita erit inter vos: sed quicumque voluerit inter vos major fieri, sit vester minister:
27. et qui voluerit inter vos primus esse, erit vester servus.
28. Sicut Filius hominis non venit ministrari, sed ministrare, et dare animam suam redemptionem pro multis.
29. Et egredientibus illis ab Jericho, secuta est eum turba multa,
30. et ecce duo cæci sedentes secus viam audierunt quia Jesus transiret: et clamaverunt, dicentes: Domine, miserere nostri, fili David.
31. Turba autem increpabat eos ut tacerent. At illi magis clamabant, dicentes: Domine, miserere nostri, fili David.
32. Et stetit Jesus, et vocavit eos, et ait: Quid vultis ut faciam vobis?
33. Dicunt illi: Domine, ut aperiantur oculi nostri.
34. Misertus autem eorum Jesus, tetigit oculos eorum. Et confestim viderunt, et secuti sunt eum.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 572: "Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, Was Crucified, Died and Was Buried" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2235: The Authorities In Civil Society ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 440: Christ ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 605: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 786: The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 601: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 15: “What I will” … Viz., with my own, and in matters that depend on my own bounty.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Wed, Feb 24, 2027: Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent — Gospel, Matthew 20:17-28
- Wed, Aug 18, 2027 (computed): Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time — Gospel, Matthew 20:1-16
- Wed, Mar 15, 2028 (computed): Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent — Gospel, Matthew 20:17-28
- Tue, Jul 25, 2028 (computed): St. James, Apostle — Gospel, Matthew 20:20-28

1 more date through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).