Matteo 21:31

31 Qual de’ due fece il voler del padre? Essi gli dissero: Il primo. Gesù disse loro: Io vi dico in verità, che i pubblicani, e le meretrici vanno innanzi a voi nel regno de’ cieli.

Matteo 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.

Matteo 21:31 In-Context

29 Ma egli, rispondendo, disse: Non voglio, pur nondimeno, poi appresso, ravvedutosi, vi andò.

30 Poi, venuto al secondo, gli disse il simigliante. Ed egli, rispondendo, disse: Sì, lo farò, signore, e pur non vi andò.

31 Qual de’ due fece il voler del padre? Essi gli dissero: Il primo. Gesù disse loro: Io vi dico in verità, che i pubblicani, e le meretrici vanno innanzi a voi nel regno de’ cieli.

32 Perciocchè Giovanni è venuto a voi per la via della giustizia, e voi non gli avete creduto; ma i pubblicani e le meretrici gli hanno creduto; e pur voi, veduto ciò, non vi siete poi appresso ravveduti, per credergli.

33 UDITE un’altra parabola: Vi era un padre di famiglia, il quale piantò una vigna e le fece una siepe attorno, e cavò in essa un luogo da calcar la vendemmia, e vi edificò una torre; poi allogò quella a certi lavoratori, e se ne andò in viaggio.