Matthew 21:28

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The Parable of the Two Sons“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said,‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Matt 21:33 : 33 The Parable of the Tenants“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.
  • Matt 17:25 : 25 He said,“Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,“What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes– from their sons or from foreigners?”
  • Matt 20:1 : 1 Workers in the Vineyard“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
  • 1 Cor 10:15 : 15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.
  • 1 Cor 15:58 : 58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
  • Matt 20:5-7 : 5 So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon, he did the same thing. 6 And about five o’clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them,‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’ 7 They said to him,‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them,‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’
  • Matt 22:17 : 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
  • Mark 13:34 : 34 It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
  • Luke 13:4 : 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?
  • Luke 15:11-32 : 11 The Parable of the Compassionate Father Then Jesus said,“A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father,‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. 14 Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses he said,‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. 21 Then his son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves,‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again– he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. 27 The slave replied,‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.’ 28 But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, 29 but he answered his father,‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him,‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. 32 It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Matt 21:29-31
    3 verses
    83%

    29The boy answered,‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went.

    30The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered,‘I will, sir,’ but did not go.

    31Which 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!

  • Luke 15:11-12
    2 verses
    81%

    11The Parable of the Compassionate Father Then Jesus said,“A man had two sons.

    12The younger of them said to his father,‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them.

  • Luke 20:9-10
    2 verses
    80%

    9The Parable of the Tenants Then he began to tell the people this parable:“A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.

    10When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed.

  • Matt 20:1-9
    9 verses
    79%

    1Workers in the Vineyard“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

    2And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

    3When it was about nine o’clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work.

    4He said to them,‘You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.’

    5So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon, he did the same thing.

    6And about five o’clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them,‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’

    7They said to him,‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them,‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’

    8When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager,‘Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.’

    9When those hired about five o’clock came, each received a full day’s pay.

  • Mark 12:1-2
    2 verses
    79%

    1The Parable of the Tenants Then he began to speak to them in parables:“A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.

    2At harvest time he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his portion of the crop.

  • Matt 21:33-41
    9 verses
    78%

    33The Parable of the Tenants“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.

    34When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop.

    35But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

    36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way.

    37Finally he sent his son to them, saying,‘They will respect my son.’

    38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves,‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’

    39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

    40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

    41They said to him,“He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

  • Luke 20:12-16
    5 verses
    78%

    12So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out.

    13Then the owner of the vineyard said,‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.’

    14But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another,‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours!’

    15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

    16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said,“May this never happen!”

  • Mark 12:6-9
    4 verses
    74%

    6He had one left, his one dear son. Finally he sent him to them, saying,‘They will respect my son.’

    7But those tenants said to one another,‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’

    8So they seized him, killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard.

    9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

  • Matt 21:27
    74%

    27So they answered Jesus,“We don’t know.” Then he said to them,“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

  • Luke 17:7
    74%

    7“Would any one of you say to your slave who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep,‘Come at once and sit down for a meal’?

  • Matt 22:1-2
    2 verses
    74%

    1The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

    2“The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

  • Luke 15:21
    74%

    21Then his son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

  • Luke 15:28
    74%

    28But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him,

  • Luke 15:26
    73%

    26So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening.

  • Luke 13:6
    73%

    6Warning to Israel to Bear Fruit Then Jesus told this parable:“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.

  • Matt 13:27-28
    2 verses
    73%

    27So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him,‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the darnel come from?’

    28He said,‘An enemy has done this!’ So the slaves replied,‘Do you want us to go and gather it?’

  • Matt 20:12
    72%

    12saying,‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.’

  • Matt 22:5
    72%

    5But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.

  • Luke 14:21
    72%

    21So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave,‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

  • Luke 15:18
    72%

    18I will get up and go to my father and say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.