Matthew 21:31

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.

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Referenced Verses

  • Luke 7:29 : 29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John's baptism.
  • Luke 7:37-50 : 37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." He said, "Teacher, say on." 41 "A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?" 43 Simon answered, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most." He said to him, "You have judged correctly." 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 48 He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
  • 2 Pet 3:9 : 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
  • Luke 15:1-2 : 1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. 2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
  • Luke 15:10 : 10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
  • Luke 19:9-9 : 9 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 came to seek and to save that which was lost."
  • Luke 19:22 : 22 "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow.
  • Acts 17:30 : 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
  • Rom 3:19 : 19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
  • Rom 5:20 : 20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
  • Rom 9:30-33 : 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone; 33 even as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed."
  • 1 Tim 1:13-16 : 13 although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
  • Matt 7:21 : 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
  • Matt 9:9 : 9 As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, "Follow me." He got up and followed him.
  • Matt 12:50 : 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother."
  • Matt 18:3 : 3 and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
  • Matt 20:16 : 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."
  • 2 Sam 12:5-7 : 5 David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die! 6 He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!" 7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: '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, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.
  • Ezek 33:11 : 11 Tell them, As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Israel?
  • Matt 5:18 : 18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
  • Matt 6:5 : 5 "When you pray, you 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 by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Matt 21:32-33
    2 verses
    86%

    32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

    33 "Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.

  • Matt 21:28-30
    3 verses
    81%

    28 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.'

    29 He answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

    30 He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, 'I go, sir,' but he didn't go.

  • Luke 15:11
    75%

    11 He said, "A certain man had two sons.

  • Luke 13:30
    74%

    30 Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."

  • Luke 3:12
    74%

    12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"

  • Matt 20:16
    73%

    16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."

  • Luke 18:10
    72%

    10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

  • Mark 10:31
    72%

    31 But many who are first will be last; and the last first."

  • Luke 15:1
    72%

    1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.

  • Matt 7:21
    71%

    21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

  • Mark 2:15-17
    3 verses
    71%

    15 It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

    16 The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"

    17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

  • Matt 19:30
    71%

    30 But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

  • Matt 5:46-47
    2 verses
    71%

    46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

    47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

  • Matt 22:1-3
    3 verses
    70%

    1 Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,

    2 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,

    3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.

  • Luke 15:30
    70%

    30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

  • Matt 9:10-11
    2 verses
    70%

    10 It happened as he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

    11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

  • Matt 21:36-37
    2 verses
    70%

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

    37 But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

  • Luke 7:31-32
    2 verses
    70%

    31 "To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like?

    32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call one to another, saying, 'We piped to you, and you didn't dance. We mourned, and you didn't weep.'

  • Matt 8:11-12
    2 verses
    70%

    11 I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,

    12 but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

  • Luke 18:13-14
    2 verses
    70%

    13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

    14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

  • Luke 15:3
    70%

    3 He told them this parable.

  • Luke 14:21
    70%

    21 "That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.'

  • Matt 18:23
    70%

    23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.

  • Luke 16:15
    69%

    15 He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

  • Matt 11:19-20
    2 verses
    69%

    19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."

    20 Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent.

  • Luke 15:21
    69%

    21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

  • Luke 13:28
    69%

    28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrown outside.

  • Luke 7:34
    69%

    34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'

  • Matt 3:2
    69%

    2 "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"

  • Matt 5:20
    69%

    20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

  • Luke 18:17
    69%

    17 Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."

  • Luke 5:30
    69%

    30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"

  • Matt 23:13
    68%

    13 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

  • Matt 20:7
    68%

    7 "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' "He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.'

  • Luke 5:32
    68%

    32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

  • Matt 18:17
    68%

    17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.