Matthew 21:29
Matthew 21:29 in Multiple Translations
‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.
And he said in answer, I will not: but later, changing his decision, he went.
The son answered, ‘I won't,’ but afterwards he was sorry for what he said and he did go.
But he answered, and said, I will not: yet afterward he repented himselfe, and went.
And he answering said, 'I will not,' but at last, having repented, he went.
He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went.
And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went.
But the son said to his father, ‘I do not want to go and work in your vineyard today!’ But later he changed his mind, and he went to the vineyard and worked.
The oldest son said, ‘No. I don’t want to.’ But later, he changed his mind, and he went and worked on their farm.
Berean Amplified Bible — Matthew 21:29
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Matthew 21:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Matthew 21:29
Study Notes — Matthew 21:29
- Context
- Cross References
- Matthew 21:29 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Matthew 21:29
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 21:29
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
- Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
- Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
- Cambridge Bible on Matthew 21:29
- Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
- Sermons on Matthew 21:29
Context — The Parable of the Two Sons
29‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
30Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go. 31Which 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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 18:28–32 | Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust? Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live! |
| 2 | Matthew 3:2–8 | and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. |
| 3 | Isaiah 55:6–7 | Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 33:10–19 | And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen. So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the hill of Ophel and heightened it considerably. He also stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God. As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers. |
| 5 | Jonah 3:8–10 | Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.” When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them. |
| 6 | Daniel 4:34–37 | But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride. |
| 7 | 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. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 44:16 | “As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! |
| 9 | Ephesians 4:17–19 | So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more. |
| 10 | Acts 26:20 | First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance. |
Matthew 21:29 Summary
[This verse shows us that even when we say no to God at first, we can still change our minds and say yes, just like the son who initially refused to work in the vineyard but later went. This is similar to what happens when we repent and turn to God, as described in Acts 3:19. By obeying God's will, we demonstrate our love for Him, as Jesus taught in John 14:15. Through this simple act of obedience, we can experience a deeper relationship with God and find true fulfillment.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to change one's mind as the son did in Matthew 21:29?
Changing one's mind, as seen in this verse, means to repent and turn towards obedience, similar to what is described in Luke 15:11-24 where the prodigal son returns to his father. This change of heart is crucial for our spiritual journey.
How does this son's response reflect our relationship with God?
The son's initial refusal followed by obedience reflects our own tendency to resist God's will, but through repentance and faith, we can turn towards Him, as encouraged in Romans 6:17-18, where we are told to obey from the heart.
What is the significance of the son going to work in the vineyard after initially refusing?
The son's decision to go to work in the vineyard despite his initial refusal illustrates the importance of obedience to God's commands, as seen in Matthew 7:21-27, where Jesus teaches that true discipleship is about doing the will of the Father.
Does this verse teach us about the possibility of redemption?
Yes, this verse teaches us that it is never too late to change our minds and turn towards God, just like the son did, reflecting the principle of redemption found in 1 John 1:9, where we are promised forgiveness if we confess our sins.
Reflection Questions
- Reflect on a time when you initially resisted God's will but later obeyed; what did you learn from that experience?
- How can you apply the principle of changing your mind and obeying God's will in a current situation in your life?
- What are some areas in your life where you feel God is calling you to obedience, and how can you take steps towards surrendering to His will?
- In what ways can you demonstrate a willingness to repent and turn towards God, just like the son in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Matthew 21:29
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 21:29
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
Cambridge Bible on Matthew 21:29
Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 21:29
Sermons on Matthew 21:29
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Aaron's Failure by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of his daughter giving a testimony before leaving for Nepal. She attributes her faith and presence at the meeting to her pa |
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Thundering in Nashville by Andrew Strom | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the decline of American TV and the need for God's people to take Him seriously and repent. He emphasizes the cultural sins that people may no |
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A Call to Repentance by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the speaker uses the analogy of a water wheel in an old-fashioned mill to illustrate the importance of removing hindrances and obstacles in order for the church to |
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Baptism of the Spirit by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of learning from history and not repeating the mistakes of the past. He highlights the 400 years of captivity that the Israel |
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(Messages) Repentance by Basilea Schlink | During World War II, many German people experienced suffering and developed a hunger for the word of God. The speaker received numerous requests for Bible studies and lectures, whi |
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Baptismal of Fire by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher describes a powerful testimony given by a woman named Lizzy Smith. Despite her small stature, Lizzy's testimony transformed the atmosphere of the meeti |
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The First Word of the Gospel by J. Edwin Orr | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance in the preaching of the gospel. He refers to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verse 17, where Jesus began his |






