Matthew 21:28 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) But what do you think [about this]? A man had two sons; He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go to work in my vineyard today.’ More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He came to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard. American Standard Version (1901) But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. Common English Bible “What do you think? A man had two sons. Now he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ Catholic Public Domain Version But how does it seem to you? A certain man had two sons. And approaching the first, he said: 'Son, go out today to work in my vineyard.' Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and coming to the first, he said: Son, go work to day in my vineyard. |
He replied, “Yes, [He does].” And when Peter entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first, [i.e., without waiting for Peter to tell Him what he had said to the tax collectors], saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect custom duty and taxes? From their children or from strangers?”
“For the kingdom of heaven is similar to a farmer who went out early one morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
So, they answered Jesus, “We do not know [where John got the authority for his immersion].” Jesus then replied to them, “[Then] neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things [i.e., miracles and teaching].
The son answered, ‘No, I will not,’ but later changed his mind and went.
“Listen to another parable [i.e., a brief story used to illustrate His teaching]: There was the owner of a farm who planted a vineyard and built a fence around it. He constructed a grape squeezing device, built a [lookout] tower [near it], leased it to tenant farmers and then went to another country.
So, tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
It is like a man who left his house on a trip to another country. [Before leaving] he put his servants in charge of his affairs, giving each one a [particular] job to do, then he ordered the gatekeeper to stay alert [i.e., while he was gone].
Or do you think that those eighteen persons who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them were worse offenders than all the [other] men who lived in Jerusalem?
I am speaking to you as [I would] to sensible people, [so] judge for yourselves what I am saying.
Therefore, my dearly loved brothers, stand firm [in the faith]; do not be moved [from your commitment] Always do your best to work for the Lord, since you know that your labor in the Lord’s [service] is not for nothing.