Matthew 21 · Verse 31

Matthew 21:31

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.
Matthew 21:31, King James Version

Matthew 21:31 in other translations

BSBWhich 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.
WEBWhich of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
ASVWhich of the two did the will of his father? They say, 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.
YLTwhich of the two did the will of the father?' They say to him, ‘The first.' Jesus saith to them, ‘Verily I say to you, that the tax-gatherers and the harlots do go before you into the reign of God,
DARBYWhich of the two did the will of the father? They say to him, The first. Jesus says to them, Verily I say unto you that the tax-gatherers and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
BBEWhich of the two did his father's pleasure? They say, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax-farmers and loose women are going into the kingdom of God before you.
WebsterWhich of the two did the will of his father? They say to him, The first. Jesus saith to them, Verily I say to you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

What does Matthew 21:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. 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 flat and flagrant refusal to do what they were commanded; it was one continued rebellion against the authority of God. The chief priests and the elders of the people, with whom our Lord was now speaking, were the second son, who said, I go, sir, but went not. They were early called, and all their life long professed obedience to God, but never rendered it; their life was one of continued disobedience.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 31. Mt 21:28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 The 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 of the synagogue of Satan.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 21:28-32

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…

Read the full comment on Matthew 21:28-32 →

Matthew 21:31 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίςtisWhichG5101
ἐκekofG1537
τῶνtōntheG3588
δύοduotwoG1417
ἐποίησενepoiēsendidG4160
τὸtotheG3588
θέλημαthelēmawillG2307
τοῦtouof theG3588
πατρός;patrosfather?G3962
λέγουσινlegousinThey sayG3004
ὁhoTheG3588
πρῶτος.prōtosfirst.G4413
λέγειlegeiSaysG3004
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
ἀμὴνamēnAmenG281
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οἱhoitheG3588
τελῶναιtelōnaitax collectorsG5057
καὶkaiandG2532
αἱhaitheG3588
πόρναιpornaiprostitutesG4204
προάγουσινproagousingo beforeG4254
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.theouof God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 21:31

  • Luke 7:29

    And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

  • Luke 7:37-50

    And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. …

  • Matthew 7:21

    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

  • 2 Peter 3:9

    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  • Matthew 20:16

    So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

  • Romans 9:30-33

    What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

  • 1 Timothy 1:13-16

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

  • Romans 3:19

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • Romans 5:20

    Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

  • Luke 19:9-10

    And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

  • Matthew 12:50

    For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

  • Acts 17:30

    And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
did.
7:21; 12:50; Eze 33:11; Lu 15:10; Ac 17:30; 2Pe 3:9
The first.
2Sa 12:5-7; Job 15:6; Lu 7:40-42; 19:22; Ro 3:19
Verily.
5:18; 6:5; 18:3
the publicans.
9:9; 20:16; Lu 7:29,37-50; 15:1,2; 19:9,10; Ro 5:20; 9:30-33
1Ti 1:13-16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 21:30

    And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

  • Matthew 21:31

    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.

  • Matthew 21:32

    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.

Read all of Matthew 21

Matthew 21:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Cuál de los dos hizo la voluntad de su padre? Dicen ellos: El primero. Díceles Jesús: De cierto os digo, que los publicanos y las rameras os van delante al reino de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Lequel des deux fit la volonté du père? Ils lui disent: Le premier. Jésus leur dit: En vérité, je vous dis que les publicains et les prostituées vous devancent dans le royaume de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Welcher von den beiden hat den Willen des Vaters getan? Sie sagen zu ihm: Der erste. Jesus spricht zu ihnen: Wahrlich, ich sage euch, daß die Zöllner und die Huren euch vorangehen in das Reich Gottes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quis ex duobus fecit voluntatem patris? Dicunt ei: Primus. Dicit illis Jesus: Amen dico vobis, quia publicani et meretrices præcedent vos in regnum Dei.