20:4a

You also go into my vineyard: These words imply that the master asked the second group of men to go and work in his vineyard. In some languages, it will be more natural to make this explicit. For example:

You also go and work in my vineyard (New International Version)
-or-
If you go and work in my vineyard (New Century Version)

20:4b

pay: In this context, this verb clearly refers to paying the men for their work. Use an expression that is natural in your language here. For example:

give (English Standard Version)
-or-
give as pay

whatever is right: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as right also means “just, good, proper.” The master of the house did not agree to a specific amount with these men. But he promised that he would act in a just manner toward them.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

whatever is good/appropriate
-or-
whatever is fair (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
whatever is correct/proper

General Comment on 20:4a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

He told them to go ⌊and work⌋ in his vineyard and he would pay them what is right.

-or-

He said he would pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. (Contemporary English Version)

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

22:2a

the kingdom of heaven: When you translate the phrase the kingdom of heaven, there are two issues to consider:

Issue 1: The meaning of heaven

In the phrase the kingdom of heaven, the word heaven is a figure of speech called metonymy. In this figure of speech, heaven refers to God, but it refers to him indirectly by naming the place where he lives and rules. The Jews considered God’s name to be so holy that they hesitated to say it. So instead of pronouncing God’s name directly, they often used the name of the place where he lives and rules. Because Matthew was writing primarily to Jews, he often used the word heaven to refer to God.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.” The phrase the kingdom of heaven only occurs in the book of Matthew. The expression “the kingdom of God” is found in all other places in the New Testament, and it even occurs five times in Matthew.

Here are some ways to translate heaven in this context:

• Make some information explicit. For example:

⌊the one/Lord who lives in⌋ heaven

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

God

Issue 2: The meaning of the kingdom of heaven

Both “the kingdom of heaven” and “the kingdom of God” refer to God’s activity of ruling over his people. God’s rule is not simply giving orders or commands to people. It also includes his protection, care, and blessing for them. God leads, protects, and cares for his people. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. The phrase “the kingdom of heaven” does not refer to a land or country that God rules over.

Here are some ways to translate the kingdom of heaven:

• As a noun. For example:

the kingdom/rule of ⌊the one who lives in⌋ heaven
-or-
the kingdom of God
-or-
God’s kingship
-or-
God’s rule over people

• As a verbal expression. For example:

God rules his people
-or-
God cares for his people as king

Translate in the same way as at 20:1. See kingdom of heaven in the Glossary for more information.

may be compared to: This expression refers to the ways that two things may be alike or different. Here it is a passive form. Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

can be compared to (NET Bible)

• Use another type of verb. For example:

is like (New International Version)
-or-
is like what happened when (Contemporary English Version)

22:2b

a king who gave a wedding feast for his son: The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as wedding feast is more literally “wedding.” A Jewish wedding could last for days. An important part of a Jewish wedding was eating and feasting. But the Greek term does not specifically refer to the food or meals at a wedding. The food is described by words like “dinner” in 22:4c.

Here are some ways to translate this term:

• Refer generally to the whole event of a marriage ceremony. For example:

a wedding (God’s Word)
-or-
a wedding reception/celebration

• Refer specifically to the feasting involved during a wedding. For example:

a wedding feast

-or-

a wedding banquet (New International Version)

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 22:34–40 A question about the most important commandment

In this section, one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to name the most important commandment in the Law of Moses. This type of question was a common one that scribes and Pharisees dealt with, and different teachers might give different answers. Jesus gave a definite answer about which law is most important. The he went beyond the question and gave an equally important second commandment.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Which is the great commandment of the Law?

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 12:28–34 and Luke 10:25–28.

Paragraph 22:34–36

22:34a

But: The Greek conjunction that the English Standard Version here translates as But often indicates a change. Here the change is a change of people. In the previous section, the Sadducees asked Jesus a question. In this section, one of the Pharisees asked Jesus a question.

Many English versions do not translate this conjunction.

when the Pharisees heard: For help in translating the word Pharisees, see the Note in 3:7a. The word Pharisees last occurred in 22:15a. Translate it the same way here.

that he: The pronoun he refers to Jesus. Since this is the beginning of a new section, you may want to make that explicit. For example:

that Jesus (God’s Word)

had silenced: The Greek verb that the English Standard Version translates as had silenced is more literally “had muzzled.” It refers to something tied over an animal’s or person’s mouth to prevent it from opening. Here it is used in a figurative sense. Jesus did not actively stop the Sadducees from speaking, but his argument was so clear and strong that they could make no response. (This same verb is in 22:12b.) Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

had tied/shut their mouths
-or-
had made them speechless
-or-
had won the argument

the Sadducees: The name Sadducees is the same as in 22:23a. Translate it the same way here.

22:34b

they gathered together: This clause in Greek contains a phrase that means “in the same place.” This implies that the Pharisees came together to plan their next attempt to trap Jesus. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they gathered together in one place

-or-

they met together

There is some implied information here. Verse 22:35 shows that the Pharisees were with Jesus. So some time between 22:34 and 22:35 they went to Jesus. In some languages, it may be natural to make this information explicit. For example:

and then went to Jesus

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.