Bible Strands
Matthew 21:31
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the religious leaders immediately after narrating the parable of the two sons, directly following the account of John the Baptist’s ministry. He asks which son obeyed his father and delivers a direct pronouncement about the kingdom of God.
The words — The verse highlights ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen, "did") and θέλημα (thelēma, "will"), which frame the father’s command as concrete action rather than mere verbal agreement. These terms anchor the parable’s question in observable obedience.
The thread — The demand to do the Father’s will rather than merely profess allegiance appears in Matthew 7:21, and the tax collectors’ acknowledgment of God’s justice in response to John’s ministry is recorded in Luke 7:29.
Why it lands — The text states that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before the religious leaders, contrasting their immediate compliance with the leaders’ refusal to repent. It demands that a reader examine whether their profession of faith produces actual obedience to God’s commands.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Luke 7:29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
- Luke 7:37 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
- Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Romans 5:20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
- Romans 9:30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
- 1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
- Job 15:6 Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.