Part 24

019:022 On hearing those words the young man went away much cast down; for he had much property.

019:023 So Jesus said to His disciples, "I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens.

019:024 Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

019:025 These words utterly amazed the disciples, and they asked, "Who then can be saved?"

019:026 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible."

019:027 Then Peter said to Jesus, "See, *we* have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be *our* reward?"

019:028 "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of Man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

019:029 And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance the Life of the Ages.

019:030 "But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

020:001 "For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,

020:002 and having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard.

020:003 About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the market-place.

020:004 To these also he said, "`You also, go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'

020:005 "So they went. Again about twelve, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same.

020:006 And going out about five o'clock he found others loitering, and he asked them, "`Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?'

020:007 "`Because no one has hired us,' they replied. "`You also, go into the vineyard,' he said.

020:008 "When evening came, the master said to his steward, "`Call the men and pay them their wages. Begin with the last set and finish with the first.'

020:009 "When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received a shilling apiece;

020:010 and when the first came, they expected to get more, but they also each got the shilling.

020:011 So when they had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying,

020:012 "`These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.'

020:013 "`My friend,' he answered to one of them, `I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling?

020:014 Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give you.

020:015 Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

020:016 "So the last shall be first, and the first last."

020:017 Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,

020:018 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and Scribes. They will condemn Him to death,

020:019 and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life."