Focused Passage

Matthew 21:28-32

The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership

Matthew moves from messianic entry, to temple judgment and healing, to children’s praise and leader indignation, to the prophetic sign of the fig tree, to a challenge over Jesus’ authority, to parables exposing false obedience and murderous stewardship, and finally to Jesus’ declaration that the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone and the kingdom will be given to a fruit-bearing people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

28 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.’

29 ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.

30 Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.

31 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.

32 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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 28

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction what Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular [do] you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural think δοκεῖ G1380 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [There was] a man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who had εἶχεν G2192 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular two δύο G1417 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural sons τέκνα G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He went προσελθὼν G4334 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular first [one] πρώτῳ G4413 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular [and] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Son Τέκνον G5043 Noun - Vocative Neuter Singular go ὕπαγε G5217 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular [and] work ἐργάζου G2038 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular today σήμερον G4594 Adverb in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular vineyard ἀμπελῶνι G290 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 29

Original words

I will not θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular he replied ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb But δὲ G1161 Conjunction later ὕστερον G5305 Adverb he changed his mind μεταμεληθεὶς G3338 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] went ἀπῆλθεν G565 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • NE and WH But he went.
Verse 30

Original words

Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction [the man] went Προσελθὼν G4334 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular second [son] δευτέρῳ G1208 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular [and] told [him] εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the same thing ὡσαύτως G5615 Adverb I [will] Ἐγώ* G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular sir κύριε* G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular he said ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular But καὶ* G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐκ* G3756 Adverb he did not go ἀπῆλθεν G565 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 31

Original words

Which Τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular of ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural two δύο G1417 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural did ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular will θέλημα G2307 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular of [his] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular father πατρός G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular first πρῶτος* G4413 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular they answered Λέγουσιν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural tax collectors τελῶναι G5057 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural prostitutes πόρναι G4204 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural are entering προάγουσιν G4254 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular before you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural

BSB notes

  • NE and WH The latter
Verse 32

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction John Ἰωάννης G2491 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular came ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] way ὁδῷ G3598 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of righteousness δικαιοσύνης G1343 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb you did not believe ἐπιστεύσατε G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural tax collectors τελῶναι G5057 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural prostitutes πόρναι G4204 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural [did] ἐπίστευσαν G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular And δὲ G1161 Conjunction [even] οὐδὲ G3761 Adverb after ὕστερον G5305 Adverb you saw this ἰδόντες G3708 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural did not repent μετεμελήθητε G3338 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular [and] believe πιστεῦσαι G4100 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.