Matthew 21:31

²⁹ ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.

³⁰ Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.

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

³² For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

³³ Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
KJV: 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.
WEB: 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 God’s Kingdom before you.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: Which of the two did the will of the father? They say [to him], The first. Jesus says to them, Verily I say unto you that the tax-gatherers and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
BLB: Which of the two did the will of the father?” They say, “The first.” Jesus says to them, “Truly I say to you⁺ that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go before you⁺ into the kingdom of God.

ÅB: Hvem av disse to gjorde farens vilje?» De sier: «Den første». Jesus sier til dem: «I sannhet sier jeg dere at tollere og prostituerte skal komme inn i Guds rike før dere.
OTB: Hvem av de to gjorde det faren ønsket?” “Den første,” svarte de. Jesus sa til dem: “Sannelig sier jeg dere, tollere og prostituerte går inn i Guds rike før dere.
B1930: Hvem av de to gjorde nu farens vilje? De sier: Den første. Jesus sier til dem: Sannelig sier jeg eder at toldere og skjøger kommer før inn i Guds rike enn I.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 7:29
All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
Read in context
Luke 7:37–50
When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
Read in context
Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Read in context
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Read in context
Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Read in context
Romans 9:30–33
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Read in context
1 Timothy 1:13–16
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Read in context
Romans 3:19
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
Read in context