Mǎtaìfúyīn 21:31

31 Nǐmen xiǎng zhè liǎng ge érzi , shì nà yī ge zūnxíng fù méng ne . tāmen shuō , dà érzi . Yēsū shuō , wǒ shízaì gàosu nǐmen , shuìlì hé chāngjì , dào bǐ nǐmen xiān jìn shén de guó .

Mǎtaìfúyīn 21:31 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 21:31

Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
&c.] This is the question put by Christ, upon the preceding parable to the chief priests, elders, and Scribes;

they say unto him, the first:
an answer which natural reason, and common sense, directed them to; and therefore they give it out at once, directly, without staying upon it, and demurring about it; though they seemed not to be aware of the application of it to themselves, which follows:

Jesus saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that the publicans and
the harlots;
that is, such who had been so; (See Gill on Matthew 9:10).

go into the kingdom of God before you.
They are signified by the first son, who repenting went, and did the will of his father: these repented under John's ministry, were called, and brought to repentance by the preaching of Christ, and his apostles: these justified God, their Father, by being baptized with John's baptism: these embraced the Messiah, believed in him, and were the first in his kingdom, and set an example to the chief among the Jews to follow: and it is easy to observe, that a poor profane sinner may, by the grace of God, be brought to repentance, that before was obstinate, rebellious, and disobedient, and be made willing to go and work in the Lord's vineyard here, and be at last glorified; when a self righteous person, notwithstanding all his fair promises and resolutions to do good, his professions of, and pretensions to religion, neither repents of his sins, nor believes in Christ; has no share in the kingdom of grace here, nor will he enter into the kingdom of glory.

Mǎtaìfúyīn 21:31 In-Context

29 Tā huídá shuō , wǒ bú qù . yǐhòu zìjǐ àohuǐ jiù qù le .

30 Yòu lái duì xiǎoér zǐ yĕ shì zhèyàng shuō , tā huídá shuō , fù a , wǒ qù . tā què bú qù .

31 Nǐmen xiǎng zhè liǎng ge érzi , shì nà yī ge zūnxíng fù méng ne . tāmen shuō , dà érzi . Yēsū shuō , wǒ shízaì gàosu nǐmen , shuìlì hé chāngjì , dào bǐ nǐmen xiān jìn shén de guó .

32 Yīnwei Yuēhàn zūn zhe yì lù dào nǐmen zhèlǐ lái , nǐmen què bú xìn tā . shuìlì hé chāngjì dào xìn tā . nǐmen kànjian le , hòulái háishì bú àohuǐ qù xìn tā .

33 Nǐmen zaì tīng yī ge bǐyù . yǒu ge jiā zhǔ , zāi le yī ge pútaóyuán , zhōuwéi juān shang líba , lǐmiàn wā le yī ge yējiǔchí , gĕ le yī zuò lóu , zū gĕi yuán hù , jiù wǎng waìguó qù le .