Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 21:28-32

"But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him." — Matthew 21:28-32 (ASV)

But what think ye? This was a way of speaking designed to direct them particularly to what He was saying, so that they might be self-convicted.

Two sons. By these two sons our Lord intends to represent the conduct of the Jews, and that of the Publicans and sinners.

In my vineyard. To work in the vineyard here represents the work which God requires man to do.

I will not. This had been the language of the Publicans and wicked men. They refused at first, and did not profess to be willing to go.

Repented. He changed his mind. Afterwards, at the preaching of John and Christ, the publicans—the wicked—repented and obeyed.

The second—said, I go, sir: and went not. This represented the conduct of the Scribes and Pharisees—professing to obey God, observing the external rites of religion, but really opposed to the kingdom of God and about to put His Son to death.

Whether of them twain, etc. Which of the two.

They say unto him, The first. This answer was correct, but it is strange that they did not perceive that it condemned themselves.

Go into the kingdom of God. They become Christians, or more readily follow the Savior.

Before you. This means rather than you. They are more likely to do it than you are. You are self-righteous, self-willed, and obstinate. Many of them had believed, but you have not.

John came unto you in the way of righteousness. That is, he came in the right way, or teaching the way to be righteous, namely, by repentance. Publicans and harlots heard him and became righteous, but they did not. They saw it, but, as in a thousand other cases, it did not produce the proper effect on them, and they would not repent.