Chapter

Matthew 21:28

ESV "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’
NIV "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
NASB But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘ Son, go work today in the vineyard.’
CSB "What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’
NLT But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
KJV But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
NKJV “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’

What does Matthew 21:28 mean?

This continues a conversation between Jesus and a group of priests and elders. They attempted to goad Jesus into making a statement they could use against Him, and He replied by proving that they lacked sincere convictions (Matthew 21:23–27). Despite their attempt to avoid admitting disobedience, Jesus will now use a parable to illustrate why the least "religious" people in Israel would enter the kingdom of God before these self-important figures. These powerful men very likely wished at this point that they had not picked this fight with Jesus.

Jesus launches into this story directly from His prior comment by posing another scenario for them to answer. The theme of this parable will, again, bring up their rejection of John the Baptist. Jesus describes a man with two sons. The man tells both boys, first one and then the other, to go work in a vineyard for the day. The sons will answer and then do two different things.
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