Matthew 21:31

American Standard Version (1901)

Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός; Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Ὁ πρῶτος. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, Ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ.

Transliteration

Which out of the dyo epoiēsen the thelēma of the patros? They legousin to him, The prōtos. Legei to them the Iēsous, Amēn I legō to you, That the telōnai and the pornai proagousin you into the basileian of Theou.

Grammar Details

• *dyo*: genitive - two
• *epoiēsen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - he did
• *thelēma*: accusative neuter singular - will
• *patros*: genitive masculine singular - father
• *legousin*: present active indicative, 3rd person plural - they say
• *prōtos*: nominative masculine singular - first
• *Legei*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - he says
• *Iēsous*: nominative masculine singular - Jesus
• *Amēn*: Hebrew transliteration - truly/verily
• *legō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I say
• *telōnai*: nominative masculine plural - tax collectors
• *pornai*: nominative feminine plural - prostitutes
• *proagousin*: present active indicative, 3rd person plural - they go before
• *basileian*: accusative feminine singular - kingdom
• *Theou*: genitive masculine singular - of God

Word Meanings

• *epoiēsen*: did/performed/accomplished
• *thelēma*: will/desire/purpose
• *patros*: father/ancestor
• *legousin*: say/tell/speak
• *prōtos*: first/former/chief
• *Legei*: says/tells/speaks
• *telōnai*: tax collectors/publicans
• *pornai*: prostitutes/harlots
• *proagousin*: go before/precede/lead the way for
• *basileian*: kingdom/reign/rule
• *Theou*: God/deity

Referenced Verses

• Luke 7:29 : 29 And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
• Luke 7:37-50 : 37 And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, [ 38 and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. 41 A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. 42 When they had not [wherewith] to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? 50 And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
• 2 Pet 3:9 : 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• Luke 15:1-2 : 1 Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
• Luke 19:9-9 : 9 And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
• Luke 19:22 : 22 He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;
• Acts 17:30 : 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
• Rom 3:19 : 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
• Rom 5:20 : 20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
• Rom 9:30-33 : 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith: 31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at [that] law. 32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling; 33 even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
• 1 Tim 1:13-16 : 13 though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: 16 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.
• Matt 7:21 : 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
• Matt 9:9 : 9 And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
• Matt 12:50 : 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
• Matt 18:3 : 3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• Matt 20:16 : 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.
• 2 Sam 12:5-7 : 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die: 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
• Job 15:6 : 6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
• Ezek 33:11 : 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
• Matt 5:18 : 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
• Matt 6:5 : 5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.