# Matthew 21.29

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-10-13 | updated: 2026-10-13 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 27. And they answered Jesus, and said, <span class="rl-speech">We know not.</span> He also said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.</span> 28. But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, <span class="rl-speech">Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.</span>
>
> **29. And he answered and said, <span class="rl-speech">I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.</span>**
>
> 30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, <span class="rl-speech">I go, sir: and went not.</span> 31. Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.</span> (Matthew 21:27-31, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 27. They answered Jesus, and said, <span class="rl-speech">“We don’t know.”</span> He also said to them, <span class="rl-speech">“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.</span> 28. But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, <span class="rl-speech">‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’</span>
>
> **29. He answered, <span class="rl-speech">‘I will not,’</span> but afterward he changed his mind, and went.**
>
> 30. He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, <span class="rl-speech">‘I go, sir,’ but he didn’</span>t go. 31. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.</span> (Matthew 21:27-31, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 27. And they answered Jesus, and said, <span class="rl-speech">We cannot tell.</span> And he said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.</span> 28. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, <span class="rl-speech">Son, go work to day in my vineyard.</span>
>
> **29. He answered and said, <span class="rl-speech">I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.</span>**
>
> 30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, <span class="rl-speech">I go, sir: and went not.</span> 31. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.</span> (Matthew 21:27-31, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 27. And answering Jesus they said, <span class="rl-speech">'We have not known.'</span> He said to them, <span class="rl-speech">he also, 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.</span> 28. 'And what think ye? A man had two children, and having come to the first, he said, <span class="rl-speech">Child, go, to-day be working in my vineyard.'</span>
>
> **29. And he answering said, <span class="rl-speech">'I will not,'</span> but at last, having repented, he went.**
>
> 30. 'And having come to the second, he said in the same manner, and he answering said, <span class="rl-speech">I [go], sir, and went not;</span> 31. which of the two did the will of the father?' They say to him, 'The first.' Jesus saith to them, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily I say to you, that the tax-gatherers and the harlots do go before you into the reign of God,</span> (Matthew 21:27-31, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- [G3338 - metamellomai](/codex/g3338-metamellomai/), *metamellomai*, Strong's G3338

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 21.24-46](/codex/matthew-21-24-46/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G3338 - metamellomai](/codex/g3338-metamellomai/)

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## Notes

_Your annotations._

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.