Matthew 21:23–32

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

23 And after* he arrived at the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him while he* was teaching, saying, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” 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.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “Now what do you think? A man had two sons. He approachedh 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 secondi 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 hisj 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! 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when* you saw it,* you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.