Matthew 21:31

New Century Version

Which of the two sons obeyed his father?” The priests and leaders answered, “The first son.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before you do.

Cross References

Job 15:6

It is your own mouth, not mine, that shows you are wicked; your own lips testify against you.

Ezekiel 33:11

Say to them: ‘The Lord God says: As surely as I live, I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways! You don’t want to die, do you, people of Israel?’

Matthew 12:50

My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.”

Matthew 18:3

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 20:16

“So those who are last now will someday be first, and those who are first now will someday be last.”

Matthew 21:30

Then the father went to the other son and said, ‘Son, go and work today in my vineyard.’ The son answered, ‘Yes, sir, I will go and work,’ but he did not go.

Matthew 5:18

I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened.

Matthew 5:46

If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that.

Matthew 6:5

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 7:21

“Not all those who say ‘You are our Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.

Matthew 9:9

When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and he stood up and followed Jesus.

Luke 15:10

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life.”

Luke 19:22

Then the king said to the servant, ‘I will condemn you by your own words, you evil servant. You knew that I am a hard man, taking money that I didn’t earn and gathering food that I didn’t plant.

Luke 7:29

(When the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good, because they had been baptized by John.

John 3:3

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot be in God’s kingdom.”

John 3:5

But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God’s kingdom.

Acts 17:30

In the past, people did not understand God, and he ignored this. But now, God tells all people in the world to change their hearts and lives.

Romans 3:19

We know that the law’s commands are for those who have the law. This stops all excuses and brings the whole world under God’s judgment,

Romans 5:20

The law came to make sin worse. But when sin grew worse, God’s grace increased.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives.