American Standard Version
Matthew 21:28
28But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.
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 shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. 27And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. 29And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. 30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Read all of Matthew 21Matthew 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
- thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
- manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- twoδύοduo · twoG1417
- sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- cameπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
- firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- goὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
- workἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
- vineyardἀμπελώνampelōn · vineyardG290
Cross-references for Matthew 21:28
- Matthew 17:25He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?
- Matthew 22:17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?
- Luke 13:4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?
- 1 Corinthians 10:15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
- Luke 15:11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
- Matthew 20:5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
- Mark 13:34It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.
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
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries