Matthew 21:29

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.

Bible in Basic English

And he said in answer, I will not: but later, changing his decision, he went.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went.

Free Bible Version

The son answered, ‘I won't,’ but afterwards he was sorry for what he said and he did go.

Geneva Bible 1599

But he answered, and said, I will not: yet afterward he repented himselfe, and went.

King James (Authorized) Version

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

One Unity Resource Bible

He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

Translation for Translators

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.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The son answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.

Noah Webster Bible

He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went.

World English Bible

He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

Young's Literal Translation

And he answering said, 'I will not,' but at last, having repented, he went.

Context

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ²⁹‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.

Summary

In this parable of the two sons, a father asked his first son to work in the vineyard, and the son initially refused but later changed his mind and went. This story illustrates the importance of obedience and repentance. It teaches that actions speak louder than words, emphasizing the significance of following through on commitments. The parable encourages believers to prioritize deeds over mere declarations of faith, highlighting the transformative power of genuine repentance and obedience to God's will.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

He answered and said, I will not--TRENCH notices the rudeness of this answer, and the total absence of any attempt to excuse such disobedience, both characteristic; representing careless, reckless sinners resisting God to His face.

John Gill Bible Commentary

He answered and said, I will not,.... Which answer fitly expresses the language and practice of openly profane and unregenerate sinners, who will not come to Christ, that they may have life; nor will they serve the Lord, but are bent upon indulging their lusts; nor will they be subject to the law of God; nor will they hear and receive the Gospel of Christ, or submit to his ordinances, and are averse to every good work: where is man's free will? this is the true picture of it; man has no will naturally to that which is good, But afterward he repented, and went: a change of mind was wrought in him, and this produced a change of life and conversation: so, many of the publicans and sinners repented of their sins of disobedience, and rebellion against God, under the ministry of John the Baptist, Christ, and his apostles; not of themselves, men do not naturally see their sin, or need of repentance; their hearts are hard and obdurate; nor have they any spiritual sense and feeling: nothing will bring them to repentance, not the most powerful ministry, the severest judgments, or the kindest mercies, without the grace of God: but it was of God, and owing to his powerful and efficacious grace, that they repented: it was his will they should come to repentance: he called them to it, and gave it to them, as a free grace gift of his: and they repented not in a mere legal way, with a legal repentance, which lies in a mere conviction of the outward acts of sin; in an external sorrow for it, in horror and terror of mind about it, and in shedding tears for it, accompanied with a cessation from the grosser acts of sin, and an outward reformation of life and manners: but they repented in an evangelical manner, as such do, who are really converted, and spiritually instructed; who are true believers in Christ, have views, and, at least, hopes of pardoning grace and mercy; and have the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Spirit: the repentance of such lies in a spiritual sight and sense of sin, of the evil nature of indwelling sin, and the exceeding sinfulness of it, as well as of the outward actions of life; in a hearty, godly sorrow for it, because committed against a God of purity, grace, and goodness; in a loathing it, and themselves for it; in a holy shame, and blushing, on account of it; and is attended with an ingenuous confession of it, and forsaking it: the consequence of which is, that such go readily and cheerfully into the Lord's vineyard; hear the word with all diligence, receive it with gladness; walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; and are taught, by the grace that has appeared to them, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world.

Matthew 21:29

The Parable of the Two Sons

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.

Bible in Basic English

And he said in answer, I will not: but later, changing his decision, he went.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went.

Free Bible Version

The son answered, ‘I won't,’ but afterwards he was sorry for what he said and he did go.

Geneva Bible 1599

But he answered, and said, I will not: yet afterward he repented himselfe, and went.

King James (Authorized) Version

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

One Unity Resource Bible

He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

Translation for Translators

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.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The son answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.

Noah Webster Bible

He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went.

World English Bible

He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

Young's Literal Translation

And he answering said, 'I will not,' but at last, having repented, he went.