Matthew 21:23-32

23Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”

24Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things.

25Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?” They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

26But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.”

27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you why I have the right to do these things.

28“What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’

29“His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.

30“The father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will, sir,’ but he didn’t go.

31“Which of the two sons did what the father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into God’s kingdom ahead of you.

32John came to you and showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn’t believe him. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn’t change your minds and believe him.