Tree of Life Version
Matthew 21:31
31Which of the two did the will of the father?” “The first,” they said. Yeshua said to them, “Amen, I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God.
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 son answered, ‘I won’t,’ but afterward he had a change of heart and went. 30The man went to the second son and said the same thing. But he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ and didn’t go. Which of the two did the will of the father?” “The first,” they said. Yeshua said to them, “Amen, I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going 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 him; and even after you saw this, you had no change of heart to believe him.” 33“Listen to another parable. There was a master of a household who planted a vineyard. He put a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then He leased it to some tenant farmers and went on a journey.
Read all of Matthew 21Matthew 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 the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
- Ezekiel 33:11Say to them: ‘As I live’—it is a declaration of Adonai—‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Return, return from your evil ways. Why will you die, O house of Israel?’
- Luke 15:10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
- Acts 17:30Although God overlooked the periods of ignorance, now He commands everyone everywhere to repent.
- 2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
- 2 Samuel 12:5Then David’s anger blazed hot against the man and he said to Nathan, “As Adonai lives, the man that did this deserves to die!
- Job 15:6Your own mouth condemns you—not I; your own lips testify against you.
- Luke 7:40And answering, Yeshua said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Say it, Teacher!”
- Luke 19:22He said to him, ‘By the words of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked slave! You knew that I am strict, taking what I did not make and reaping what I did not sow?
- Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those within the Torah, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become accountable to God.
- Matthew 5:18Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass.
- Matthew 6:5“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Amen, I tell you, they have their reward in full!
- Matthew 18:3and said, “Amen, I tell you, unless you turn and become like children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 9:9As Yeshua was passing by from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he got up and followed Him.
- Matthew 20:16“So 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
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
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