Matius 21:28-30

The Parable of the Two Sons

21:28 “What ¹  do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 21:29 The boy answered, ²  ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart ³  and went. 21:30 The father ⁴  went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ⁵  ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go.

Matius 21:32

21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although ⁶  you saw this, you did not later change your minds ⁷  and believe him.

[21:28]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:29]  ² tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here the referent (“the boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:29]  ³ tn The Greek text reads here μεταμέλομαι (metamelomai): “to change one’s mind about something, with the probable implication of regret” (L&N 31.59); cf. also BDAG 639 s.v. The idea in this context involves more than just a change of mind, for the son regrets his initial response. The same verb is used in v. 32.

[21:30]  ⁴ tn “And he”; here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:30]  ⁵ tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated. Here the referent (“this boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:32]  ⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:32]  ⁷ sn The word translated change your minds is the same verb used in v. 29 (there translated had a change of heart). Jesus is making an obvious comparison here, in which the religious leaders are viewed as the disobedient son.