The Parable of the Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
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Matt.21.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τι: PRON,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- δοκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- δυο: NUM,card
- προσελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πρωτω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- ειπεν·Τεκνον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+NOUN,voc,sg,n
- υπαγε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- σημερον: ADV
- εργαζου: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αμπελωνι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 15:11-32 (thematic): Another parable featuring two sons in contrast (one who leaves/repents, one who stays/objects) — explores obedience, repentance, and reversal of expectations.
- Matthew 20:1-16 (verbal): Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard uses the same vineyard/worker imagery and language about being sent to work in a vineyard.
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (allusion): The 'song of the vineyard' portrays Israel as a vineyard that fails to produce fruit — background imagery for Jesus' vineyard parables and expectations of obedience.
- Matthew 21:31-32 (structural): Jesus' immediate application of the Two Sons parable: the first son who 'did the will' parallels tax collectors and prostitutes who believed John — clarifies the parable's point about repentance and action.
- Matthew 21:33-41 (thematic): The Parable of the Wicked Tenants continues vineyard imagery and themes of stewardship, rejection, and judgment — related settings and expectations for Israel's response.
Alternative generated candidates
- What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
- What do you think? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
Matt.21.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Ου: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- θελω·υστερον: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- μεταμεληθεις: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,m,sg
- απηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matt.21.28 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the parable’s first son contrasts with 21:29’s second son (saying vs. doing), setting up the point about true obedience.
- Matt.21.31-32 (thematic): Jesus applies the sons’ contrast to show that those who initially refuse but then repent/do (tax collectors, sinners) enter the kingdom before professing but unrepentant hearers—same theme of initial refusal followed by later obedience/repentance.
- Matt.27.3 (verbal): Judas ‘repented’ (μεταμεληθείς) in Matthew 27:3—uses the same Greek verb (μεταμεληθείς/μεταμεληθεις) for a change of mind/repentance as in 21:29.
- Luke 15:21 (thematic): Prodigal son’s return—an initial refusal/disobedience followed by repentance and return (‘I have sinned…’), paralleling the pattern of saying ‘I will not’ but later changing and going.
- Jonah 3:5-10 (thematic): Nineveh’s people ‘turned from’ their evil and fasted—an example of collective repentance and changed action (initial wrong course then reversal), echoing the parable’s emphasis on changed behavior rather than mere words.
Alternative generated candidates
- He answered, 'I will not.' But afterward he changed his mind and went.
- He answered, 'I will not.' But afterward he changed his mind and went.
Matt.21.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- προσελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- δευτερω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ωσαυτως·ο: ADV+ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Εγω: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+PRON,nom,sg,1
- κυριε·και: NOUN,voc,sg,m+CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- απηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matt.21:29 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the parable: the first son initially refuses ('I will not') but then changes his mind and goes — directly contrasts with v.30's second son who promises but does not act.
- Matt.21:31 (structural): The parable's conclusion asks which son did the father's will, making v.30 integral to the parable's structure and ethical point about deeds versus words.
- Matt.21:32 (thematic): Jesus applies the parable to show that tax collectors and prostitutes who repented enter God's kingdom while the religious leaders did not — emphasizing action and repentance over mere verbal assent.
- Luke 7:29-30 (thematic): Similar reversal theme: tax collectors and sinners respond to God's messenger (John/Jesus) while Pharisees and experts reject God's counsel — parallels the contrast between outward profession and obedient response.
- James 2:17 (thematic): Principle that faith without works is dead parallels the parable's moral: verbal profession ('I will') means nothing without corresponding action; true obedience is shown in deeds.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he went to the other and said the same. He answered, 'I will, sir,' yet he did not go.
- And he came to the other and said the same. He answered, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.
Matt.21.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- δυο: NUM,card
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- θελημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγουσιν·Ο: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- πρωτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Αμην: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τελωναι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- πορναι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- προαγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.21.28-32 (structural): Immediate context — the parable of the two sons; verse 31 is the parable's conclusion that tax collectors and prostitutes enter God's kingdom ahead of the religious leaders.
- Matt.9.10-13 (verbal): Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners and says, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' and 'I have not come to call the righteous but sinners' — contrasts religious self-righteousness with repentant sinners entering God's favor.
- Luke 5.31-32 (verbal): Parallel saying, 'I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,' emphasizing that sinners (not self-righteous leaders) respond and are welcomed.
- Luke 7.29-30 (thematic): Crowds and tax collectors accept John's baptism while Pharisees and lawyers reject God's purpose for themselves — parallels the reversal that sinners receive God's kingdom before the leaders.
- Luke 15.1-2 (thematic): Tax collectors and sinners draw near to Jesus while the Pharisees grumble — illustrates the same theme of sinners responding to God and religious leaders' refusal.
Alternative generated candidates
- They said to him, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.'
- They said to him, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.'
Matt.21.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: CONJ
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προς: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- οδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- δικαιοσυνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- επιστευσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- αυτω·οι: PRON,dat,sg,3 + ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- τελωναι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- πορναι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- επιστευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω·υμεις: PRON,dat,sg,3 + PRON,nom,pl,2
- δε: CONJ
- ιδοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- ουδε: CONJ
- μετεμεληθητε: VERB,aor,pass,ind,2,pl
- υστερον: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πιστευσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 7:29-30 (verbal): Explicit parallel: tax collectors and sinners accept John's baptism and believe, while the Pharisees and lawyers reject God's purpose — same contrast of repentant outcasts vs. religious leaders.
- Matthew 21:31 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same discourse: Jesus states that tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before the religious leaders — closely connected claim and conclusion to v.32.
- Matthew 11:7-19 (thematic): Jesus' reflection on John the Baptist and the mixed responses to him and to the Son of Man highlights the same theme: the righteous leaders' refusal to respond versus sinners' receptivity.
- Matthew 9:13 (cf. Mark 2:17) (thematic): Jesus' summons to 'go and learn what mercy means' and his statement that he came to call sinners, not the righteous, undergird the reproach that religious leaders failed to repent while 'sinners' did.
Alternative generated candidates
- For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you would not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even after you saw it, you did not repent and believe him.
- For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him, and when you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.
What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Child, go and work today in the vineyard.'
He answered, 'I will not.' But afterward he changed his mind and went. And he came to the other and said the same. He answered, 'I will,' but he did not go.
Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to him, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.'
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; yet the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And when you saw this, you did not repent afterward so as to believe him.