Matthew 21:28

Matthew 21:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
• New International Version (NIV)“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’

Context of Matthew 21:28

26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the [response of the] crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what [kind of] authority I do these things.” “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and changed his mind and went. 30Then the man came to the second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go.

Matthew 21:28 word by word

Τί δὲ ὑμῖν δοκεῖ; ἄνθρωπος εἶχεν τέκνα δύο, καὶ προσελθὼν τῷ πρώτῳ εἶπεν· τέκνον, ὕπαγε σήμερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνιRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• Aἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• he cameπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
• to the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• goὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
• workἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• to dayσήμερονsēmeron · todayG4594
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• vineyardἀμπελώνampelōn · vineyardG290

Cross-references for Matthew 21:28

• Matthew 17:25Peter answered, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
• Matthew 22:17Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
• Luke 13:4Or do you assume that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed were worse sinners than all the others who live in Jerusalem?
• 1 Corinthians 10:15I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say.
• Luke 15:11Then He said, “A certain man had two sons.
• Matthew 20:5He went out about the sixth hour (noon) and the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), and did the same thing.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].

Commentaries on Matthew 21:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28A certain man had two sons - Under the emblem of these two sons, one of whom was a libertine, disobedient, and insolent, but who afterwards thought on his ways, and returned to his duty; and the second, a hypocrite, who promised all, and did nothing; our Lord points out, on the one hand, the tax-gatherers and sinners of all descriptions, who, convicted by the preaching of John and that of Christ, turned away from their iniquities and embraced the Gospel…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28-32Verses 28-32 But what think ye? - A way of speaking designed to direct them particularly to what he was saying, that they might be self-convicted. Two sons - By those two sons our Lord intends to represent the conduct of the Jews, and that of the publicans and sinners. In my vineyard - See the notes at Matthew 21:33. To work in the vineyard here represents the work which God requires man to do. I will not - This had been the language of the publicans and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-32Verses 28-32 Parables which give reproof, speak plainly to the offenders, and judge them out of their own mouths. The parable of the two sons sent to work in the vineyard, is to show that those who knew not John's baptism to be of God, were shamed by those who knew it, and owned it. The whole human race are like children whom the Lord has brought up, but they have rebelled against him, only some are more plausible in their disobedience than others. And it…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-32This parable continues to emphasize why John is important.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard--for true religion is a practical thing, a "bringing forth fruit unto God."Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 21:28

• Ecclesiasticism
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Reproof
• Vineyard
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Authority
• Daughter
• Grind
• Loose
• Move
• Presently
• Reverence
• Seat
• Thief
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on Matthew 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings