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 fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things. “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ 29But he replied, ‘I do not want to.’ Yet afterward he regretted it and went. 30And the man came to his second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; and yet 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

• “But whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• do you thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• A manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• and he cameπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
• to the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• goὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
• todayσήμερονsēmeron · todayG4594
• vineyardἀμπελώνampelōn · vineyardG290

Cross-references for Matthew 21:28

• Matthew 17:25He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”
• Matthew 22:17Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
• Luke 13:4Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?
• 1 Corinthians 10:15I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say.
• Luke 15:11And He said, “A man had two sons.
• Matthew 20:5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in 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

• 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