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.
KJV
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.
Greek NT
quis ex duobus fecit voluntatem patris ? Dicunt ei : Primus. Dicit illis Jesus : Amen dico vobis, quia publicani et meretrices præcedent vos in regnum Dei.
Vulgate
Which 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.
ASV
Which of the two did the father's will? They say to him: The first. Jesus saith to them: Amen I say to you that the publicans and the harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you.
Douay-Rheims
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In this verse
In the original Greek
21 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
Textual variants
2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.
- λέγουσιν — SBLGNT
- λέγουσιν — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
- + αὐτῷ — Robinson-Pierpont
- πρῶτος — SBLGNT
- πρῶτος — Reader's GNT (NA27), Robinson-Pierpont
- ὕστερος — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles
Themes
Parable
Historic Christian voices
7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§546Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching.261 Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything.262 Words are not enough, deeds are required.263 The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or …
That one God formed all things in the world, by means of the Word and the Holy Spirit: and that although He is to us in this life invisible and incomprehensible, nevertheless He is not unknown; inasmuch as His works do declare Him, and His Word has shown that in many modes He may be seen and known. 1. As regards His greatness, therefore, it is not possible to know God, for it i…
2. Now that on this account Christ came to His baptism, is from this evident. But wherefore was this baptism devised for Him? For that not of himself did the son of Zacharias proceed to this, but of God who moved him — this Luke also declares, when he says, The word of the Lord came unto him, Luke 3:2 that is, His commandment. And he himself too says, He that sent me to baptize…
2. But for what reason does He command this one to tell him of his fault, and not another? Because this man he would endure more quietly, this, who has been wronged, who has been pained, who has been despitefully used. For one does not bear in the same way being told by another of one's fault concerning him that has been insulted, as by the insulted person himself, especially w…
2. Not any therefore of these things does He here intimate, but it is what I said, He displays His power to punish, and this is shown by saying, The time was not yet, making it clear that of this special purpose He went, and not for hunger, but for His disciples' sake, who indeed marvelled exceedingly, although many miracles had been done greater; but, as I said, this was stran…
Cross-references
- 1Cor 6:16 — What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
- 1John 2:17 — And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
- 1Tim 1:13 — Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- 2Pet 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.
- Heb 10:36 — For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
- Jas 2:25 — Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
- Luke 3:12 — Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
- 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 — 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,
- Luke 7:37 — 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,
- Luke 11:9 — And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
- Luke 18:10 — Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
- Mal 3:2 — But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
- Mark 1:15 — And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
- Mark 10:31 — But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
- Matt 5:46 — For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
- Matt 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.
- Matt 9:9 — And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
- Matt 10:7 — And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matt 12:28 — But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
- Matt 19:30 — But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
- Matt 20:16 — So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- Matt 20:16 — So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- Matt 23:13 — But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
- Prov 26:12 — Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
- Rom 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.
- Rom 5:20 — Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
- Rom 9:30 — What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.