Lexham English Bible

Matthew 21:24-31 Lexham English Bible (LEB)

24. And Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question. If you tell the answer to me, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

25. From where was the baptism of John—from heaven or from men?” And they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

26. But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because they all look upon John as a prophet.”

27. And they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

28. “Now what do you think? A man had two sons. He approached the first and said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’

29. And he answered and said, ‘I do not want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.

30. And he approached the second and said the same thing. So he answered and said, ‘I will, sir,’ and he did not go.

31. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God!