The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’(A)

29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing.

“‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go.

31 “Which of the two did his father’s will?”

“The first,” they said.

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness,(B) and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

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The Parable about Two Sons

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 His son[a] replied, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father[b] went to the other son[c] and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will,[d] sir,’ but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did the father’s will?”

They answered, “The first one.”

Jesus told them, “I tell all of you[e] with certainty, tax collectors and prostitutes will get into God’s kingdom ahead of you! 32 John came to you living a righteous life,[f] and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didn’t change your minds[g] at last and believe him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:29 Lit. He
  2. Matthew 21:30 Lit. he
  3. Matthew 21:30 The Gk. lacks son
  4. Matthew 21:30 The Gk. lacks will
  5. Matthew 21:31 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  6. Matthew 21:32 Lit. you in the way of righteousness
  7. Matthew 21:32 Or didn’t repent