Matthew 21:23-32
Authority and Two Sons
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23When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
24“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
25What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
27So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
30Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.
31Which 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.
32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, 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.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus enters the temple and teaches. The chief priests and elders ask by what authority he does these things and who gave him that authority. Jesus answers with a question about John's baptism: was it from heaven or from man?
The leaders reason among themselves. If they say heaven, Jesus will ask why they did not believe John; if they say man, they fear the crowd, because the people regard John as a prophet. They finally say they do not know, and Jesus refuses to answer their question on their terms.
Jesus then tells of a man with two sons. The father tells the first to work in the vineyard. The son says no, but later changes his mind and goes. The second says yes, but does not go. Jesus asks which did the father's will, and the leaders answer, “The first.”
Jesus applies the parable to tax collectors and prostitutes who believed John and were entering the kingdom ahead of the leaders. The point is not that sin does not matter; it is that repentance is more truthful than a respectable promise that never becomes obedience.
The passage is a warning against using religious authority to avoid an honest answer. It also offers hope to people whose first response has been wrong but who are willing to turn and do what is right.
How We Know
The chief priests' question about Jesus' authority has close parallels in Mark 11:27-33 and Luke 20:1-8. Matthew then adds the parable of the two sons, which is distinctive to this Gospel; the shared question and the added parable should be kept distinct.
Questions
1 Which son actually obeys his father?
AnswerThe first son actually obeys. He initially refuses his father's command to work in the vineyard, but afterward changes his mind and goes.
2 Why does the son's later change of mind matter more than his first words?
AnswerOne son refuses his father's request and later goes, while the other agrees but never works; the leaders identify obedience as the decisive response.
3 How can repentance be more truthful than respectable speech?
AnswerThe first son’s changed action does the father’s will; the second son’s respectful words do not. Repentance admits an earlier refusal and turns toward obedience.
4 Which promise or wrong response needs honest follow-through?
AnswerEach person can name one promise that needs follow-through or one wrong response that needs repentance, then take the next honest action.
What This Means for Us
The first son is not praised for saying no. His better choice comes when he changes his mind and goes. That gives hope to people who have resisted God, apologized poorly, or taken too long to act; repentance can still become visible.
The second son exposes a different danger: agreement can be a performance. At home, “yes” is not faithfulness if it is offered to end a conversation and followed by inaction. Trust grows when words and behavior begin to match.
Jesus' reference to despised outsiders also challenges our rankings. We should not assume that a polished religious identity means a person is closer to God, or that a troubled past makes repentance impossible.
Follow through on a responsibility you agreed to but have left undone. If you need help, ask honestly instead of offering another reassuring promise. The first son’s changed response reminds us that it is still time to act.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, make our words honest and our obedience real. Give us humility to change direction, courage to repair what we have neglected, and mercy toward people whose repentance surprises us. Amen.