Matthew 21:24-31
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 21
24But Jesus responded and said to them, 'I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?' And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, 'If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.' 27And answering Jesus, they said, 'We do not know.' He also said to them, 'Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.
28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘ Son, go work today in the vineyard.’
29But he replied, ‘I do not want to.’ Yet afterward he regretted it and went.
30And the man came to his second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; and yet he did not go.
31Which of the two did the will of his father?' They *said, 'The first.' Jesus *said to them, 'Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
King James Version
Chapter 21
24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, 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.
Christian Standard Bible
25Did John's baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin? "They discussed it among themselves, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Then why didn't you believe him? '
26But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we're afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet."
New Living Translation
Chapter 21
24I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,' Jesus replied.
25Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?' They talked it over among themselves. 'If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.
26But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.'
28But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
29The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
30Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
English Standard Version
Chapter 21
24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’
29And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.
30And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.
31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
New International Version
25John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?' They discussed it among themselves and said, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
26But if we say, 'Of human origin'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.'