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 people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went. 30The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but 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 17:25He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons or from foreigners?”
• Matthew 22:17Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
• Luke 13:4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?
• 1 Corinthians 10:15I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.
• Luke 15:11Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons.
• Matthew 20:5So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon, he did the same thing.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding 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