Matthew 21:28-32
New Living Translation
Parable of the Two Sons
28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
They replied, “The first.”[a]
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
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- 21:29-31 Other manuscripts read “The second.” In still other manuscripts the first son says “Yes” but does nothing, the second son says “No” but then repents and goes, and the answer to Jesus’ question is that the second son obeyed his father.
Matthew 21:28-32
International Standard Version
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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- Matthew 21:29 Lit. He
- Matthew 21:30 Lit. he
- Matthew 21:30 The Gk. lacks son
- Matthew 21:30 The Gk. lacks will
- Matthew 21:31 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Matthew 21:32 Lit. you in the way of righteousness
- Matthew 21:32 Or didn’t repent
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