Matthew 21

Authority questioned

23He entered the temple and was teaching when the chief priests and elders of the people approached him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “Who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus answered, “I will ask you one question too. If you answer it, I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Where did John’s baptism come from—heaven or human beings?” They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘Heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Human beings’—we fear the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” He told them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Two sons

28“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Child, go work in the vineyard today.’ 29‘I don’t want to,’ he answered. But later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he did not go. 31Which of the two did his father’s will?” “The first,” they said. Jesus told them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing this, you did not change your minds and believe him.