Matthew 21:31

KJV1611 – Modern English

Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax collectors and 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

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, 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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Whether of the twayne dyd the will of the father? And they sayde vnto hym: the fyrst. Iesus sayde vnto the: verely I saye vnto you that the publicans and the harlotes shall come into ye kyngdome of God before you.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Whether of them twayne dyd the wil of the father? They sayde vnto him: the first. Iesus sayde vnto the: Verely I saye vnto you: The publicans and harlottes shal come in to the kyngdome of God before you.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Whether of them twaine did the will of the father? They saide vnto him, The first. Iesus saide vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, that the Publicanes and the harlots goe before you into the kingdome of God.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Whether of them twayne did the wyl of the father? And they saide vnto him, the first. Iesus sayth vnto them: Ueryly I saye vnto you, that publicanes & harlottes go into the kingdome of God, before you.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹Whether of them twain did the will of› [his] ‹father?› They say unto him, 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.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  which of the two did the will of the father?' They say to him, `The first.' Jesus saith to them, `Verily I say to you, that the tax-gatherers and the harlots do go before you into the reign of God,

• 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.

• 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Which of the two did his father's pleasure? They say, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax-farmers and loose women are going into the kingdom of God before you.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said,“The first.” Jesus said to them,“I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

Referenced Verses

• Luke 7:29 : 29 And all the people who heard him, and the tax collectors, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
• Luke 7:37-50 : 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat to eat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with 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 who had invited him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what sort of woman this is who touches him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him, You have rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, you gave me no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil you did not anoint: but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. 48 And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. 49 And those who sat at the meal with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that also forgives sins? 50 And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
• 2 Pet 3:9 : 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• Luke 15:1-2 : 1 Then all the tax collectors and sinners drew near to him to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
• Luke 19:9-9 : 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
• Luke 19:22 : 22 And he said to him, Out of your own mouth I will judge you, wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow.
• Acts 17:30 : 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
• Rom 3:19 : 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
• Rom 5:20 : 20 Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more:
• Rom 9:30-33 : 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith. 31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense; and whoever believes on Him shall not be put to shame.
• 1 Tim 1:13-16 : 13 Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all patience as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
• Matt 7:21 : 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.
• Matt 9:9 : 9 And as Jesus passed from there, he saw a man named Matthew, sitting at the tax office: and he said to him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
• Matt 12:50 : 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
• Matt 18:3 : 3 And said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matt 20:16 : 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.
• 2 Sam 12:5-7 : 5 David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die. 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no pity. 7 Nathan said to David, You are the man. Thus says the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
• Job 15:6 : 6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I; yes, your own lips testify against you.
• Ezek 33:11 : 11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
• Matt 5:18 : 18 For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will by any means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
• Matt 6:5 : 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.