Matthew 21:28-32
Chapter 21
28
Jesus continued, saying: “What do you think of this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, ‘Son, go and work today in my vineyard.’”
Parable of the Two Sons
29
And the son replied: ‘I don’t want to.’ But later, he reconsidered and went.
30
Then the father went to his other son and said the same thing to him. This son replied: ‘I will go, sir,’ but he did not go.
31
Which of the two did what the father wanted?”
They answered:
“The first.”
And Jesus said to them:
“Truly, I tell you: tax collectors and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven.
32
For John came to show you the way of goodness, and you did not believe him, but tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You witnessed this, yet you neither repented nor believed him.
Commentaries
Parable of the Two Sons.
Jesus starts the parable with a question: “What do you think?” (28). At that time and place, people would likely have thought the first son acted correctly because he responded properly to his father. The second son’s refusal was seen as disrespectful. However, Jesus shifts the question: “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (31). What matters is not external appearances but what is inside people; the one who honors God is not necessarily the one who performs outward rituals, but the one who does his will.