Matthew 21:31

Matthew 21:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
• New International Version (NIV)“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

Context of Matthew 21:31

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. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him. 33“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.

Matthew 21:31 word by word

τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός; λέγουσιν ὁ πρῶτος. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Whetherτίςtis · which?G5101
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• them twainδύοduo · twoG1417
• didποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• the willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• ofπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• They sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• The firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the publicansτελώνηςtelōnēs · tax collectorG5057
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the harlotsπόρνηpornē · prostituteG4204
• goπροάγωproagō · to go/bring beforeG4254
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Matthew 21:31

• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
• Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
• Ezekiel 33:11Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’
• Luke 15:10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
• Acts 17:30Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,
• 2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
• 2 Samuel 12:5Then David became very angry at this man. He said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
• Job 15:6Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you.
• Luke 7:40So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
• Luke 19:22The king said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow?
• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
• Matthew 5:18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.
• Matthew 6:5“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
• Matthew 18:3and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!
• Matthew 9:9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him.
• Matthew 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Commentaries on Matthew 21:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31The publicans and the harlots - In all their former conduct they had said No. Now they yield to the voice of truth when they hear it, and enter into the kingdom, embracing the salvation brought to them in the Gospel. The others, who had been always professing the most ready and willing obedience, and who pretended to be waiting for the kingdom of God, did not receive it when it came, but rather chose, while making the best professions, to continue members…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. 3131. Whether of them twain did the will of his Father? They say unto him, The first--Now comes the application. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go--or, "are going"; even now entering, while ye hold back. into the kingdom of God before you--The publicans and the harlots were the first son, who, when told to work in the Lord's vineyard, said, I will not; but afterwards repented and went. Their early life was a…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 21:31

• Church
• Ecclesiasticism
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Publicans
• Reproof
• Salvation
• Tax
• Vineyard
• Works

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Kingdom of God
• Authority
• Daughter
• Grind
• Harlot
• Loose

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