28"But what do you think? A man had two children. He came to the first and said, 'Child, go work today in the vineyard.' [21:29] And he answered and said, 'I will not.' But afterward, having changed his mind, he went. [21:30] And coming to the second he said the same. And that one answered, 'I will, sir.' And he did not go. [21:31] 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 are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. [21:32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And you, seeing it, did not afterward change your minds so as to believe him."
MAT 21:28-32
The Parable of the Two Sons
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish society, the parable of the Two Sons would resonate deeply within the framework of familial honor and obedience. Fathers held significant authority in the household, and a son’s compliance or defiance directly reflected on the family’s honor. The vineyard, a common symbol of Israel, underscores the expectation of labor in God’s work. The first son’s initial refusal and subsequent change of mind would be understood as a shift from dishonor to honor, aligning with the cultural value of repentance. The second son’s verbal compliance but inaction would be seen as dishonorable, akin to hypocrisy. Jesus’ mention of tax collectors and prostitutes would shock his audience, as these groups were marginalized and despised—tax collectors for their collaboration with Rome and exploitation of the poor, and prostitutes often being enslaved women trapped in degrading roles. By elevating them as examples of repentance, Jesus challenges the religious elite’s assumptions about righteousness and the kingdom of God.
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How other translations render this
MAT 21:28
- 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.
- BSB
- But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
- Koinōnos
- But what do you think? A man had two children. He came to the first and said, 'Child, go work today in the vineyard.
MAT 21:29
- KJV
- He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
- BSB
- ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
- Koinōnos
- And he answered and said, 'I will not.' But afterward, having changed his mind, he went.
MAT 21:30
- KJV
- And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
- BSB
- Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.
- Koinōnos
- And coming to the second he said the same. And that one answered, 'I will, sir.' And he did not go.
MAT 21:31
- 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.
- BSB
- Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
- Koinōnos
- 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 are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.
MAT 21:32
- KJV
- For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
- BSB
- For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
- Koinōnos
- For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And you, seeing it, did not afterward change your minds so as to believe him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 21:28
- sons:The word translated 'sons' here is a general term for children, emphasizing their familial relationship and the father's authority over them, rather than specifically adult male offspring.
MAT 21:29
- having repented:The word translated 'having repented' describes a change of mind that leads to a change of action, focusing on the regret and subsequent behavioral shift rather than a deep theological repentance.
MAT 21:31
- the:The term used here for 'tax collector' referred to individuals who were often Jewish but worked for the Roman occupiers, collecting taxes and frequently extorting extra money, making them despised figures in society.
- the:The word translated 'prostitute' referred to women engaged in sexual commerce, who were considered social outcasts and sinners in Jewish society, often living on the margins.