Matthew 21:31-44 "Which of the two did the will of the father?" They as a group are saying, "The first one." thus: "Now he, giving a considered reply, said,' I {go}, sir,' and yet he did not go off. So, upon approaching the second one, he said likewise. Yet he, giving a determined reply, said, 'I will not! 'Subsequently, he thought better of it {and} went forth. Which of {these} two fulfilled the desire of {his} father?" They are saying, "The latter one." - other MSS read vs. Jesus said, "That's right (You got it; Amen)! I am now saying and laying it out for you that the tax (or: tribute; toll) collectors (or: tax farmers; businessmen who bought the contract to collect taxes for the government) and the prostitutes are constantly preceding you men into God's reign (or: the kingdom of God; the sovereign activity of God)!

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ³¹ "Which of the two did the will of the father?" They [as a group] are saying, "The first one." [other MSS read vs. 29-31 thus: "Now he, giving a considered reply, said,' I {go}, sir,' and yet he did not go off. So, upon approaching the second one, he said likewise. Yet he, giving a determined reply, said, 'I will not! 'Subsequently, he thought better of it {and} went forth. Which of {these} two fulfilled the desire of {his} father?" They are saying, "The latter one."] Jesus said, "That's right (You got it; Amen)! I am now saying and laying it out for you that the tax (or: tribute; toll) collectors (or: tax farmers; businessmen who bought the contract to collect taxes for the government) and the prostitutes are constantly preceding you men into God's reign (or: the kingdom of God; the sovereign activity of God)! ³² "You see, John came toward you men within the path (or: on the road) of fairness and equity, in accord with the way pointed out, and in the right relationship which pertains to justice – and you men did not trust him or put your faith in him (or: you did not believe him). However, the tax collectors and the prostitutes trusted him (put their faith in him; believed him), yet you men – upon seeing [this] – still did not change your thoughts or interests (or: regret your behavior and think better of it) [so as] to trust in him (put faith in and believe him). ³³ "Listen, and hear another illustration (parable): There was a man (human), a householder, who planted a vineyard. Then he put a fence (or: wall; hedge) around it and excavated a trough-shaped receptacle as a winepress. Next he erected a viewing tower, then he leased [the vineyard] out to farmer who would cultivate and dress the vines. With that, he left his home country and traveled abroad. ³⁴ "Now when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent off his slaves to the farmers (= tenant-cultivators) for the purpose of receiving and taking his [share of] the fruits. ³⁵ "And then the farmers (vinedressers), upon taking hold of his slaves, thrashed one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ "So again, he sent off other slaves – more than the first ones – and they did the same to them! ³⁷ "Lastly, he dispatched his son to them, saying, 'They will proceed being turned back on themselves in shame, and thus show respect for and reverence my son.' ³⁸ "Yet the vinedressers (farmers; cultivators) – upon seeing the son – said among themselves, 'This one is the heir! Come now! We should (or: can) kill him and then we can have his inheritance!' ³⁹ "And so, upon taking hold of him, they threw him out – outside of the vineyard –and they killed [him]. ⁴⁰ "Therefore, whenever the owner of the vineyard may come, what will he proceed to be doing to those farmers (vinedressers)?" ⁴¹ They, as a group, say to Him, "Worthless men (Evil, bad, ugly and malicious fellows)! He will proceed to destroy them in an ugly and vicious way! And then, he will proceed to lease out the vineyard to other vinedressers (farmers; cultivators), who will be habitually giving away (rendering) to him his due share of the fruits, in their proper seasons." ⁴² Jesus is then saying to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'A stone which the builders rejected as the result of a test – this one is birthed into (or: comes to be for) a head of a corner (= a keystone; a capstone; a cornerstone). This [head] was birthed (came into existence) from [the] Lord's [=Yahweh's] side (or: presence), and it is wonderful and marvelous in our eyes'? [Ps. 118:22-23] ⁴³ "Because of this, I am now saying to you men that God's reign (or: the kingdom of God; the influence and activity of God's sovereignty) will be progressively lifted up away from you folks, and it (or: she) will proceed being given to an ethnic multitude (or: nation; people group) consistently producing its (or: her) fruit! ⁴⁴ "Further, the person falling upon this Stone will progressively be shattered together. Yet upon whom it may likely fall, It will be progressively winnowing him and scattering the chaff."