He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.
Parallel translations
- WEB He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
- KJV He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
- BSB ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
- NASB But he replied, ‘I do not want to.’ Yet afterward he regretted it and went.
- NLT The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The first son refuses but later repents and obeys. He pictures sinners who initially reject God yet turn and follow Him.
Overview
This son's open refusal followed by genuine change of mind illustrates true repentance. He represents the tax collectors and sinners who, though outwardly far from God, responded to John's call and believed. The parable shows that what counts before God is not initial profession but a heart that ultimately submits and obeys.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ezek 18:28–32Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
- Dan 4:34–37At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
- Matt 3:2–8“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
- Eph 4:17–19This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
- Isa 1:16–19Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
- Jonah 3:2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
- Jonah 3:8–10but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.
- Eph 2:1–13You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
- Acts 26:20but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
- Luke 15:17–18But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
- 1 Cor 6:11Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
- Isa 55:6–7Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Jer 44:16“As for the word that you have spoken to us in Yahweh’s name, we will not listen to you.
- Matt 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
- 2 Chr 33:10–19Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they didn’t listen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 21:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.