Matthew 21:30 - He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I’ m going, sir,’ but he didn’t go.

Generated Verse: Matthew 21:30

What does "Matthew 21:30" mean?


This verse is part of a parable told by Jesus in Matthew 21:28-32. It describes two sons and their responses to their father's request to work in the vineyard. This verse specifically focuses on the second son.

Here's the breakdown of what the verse means:

"He came to the second, and said the same thing." - The father asked the second son to work in the vineyard, just like he asked the first son.

"He answered, ‘I’m going, sir,’" - The second son verbally agrees to obey his father. He appears respectful and willing to do as he's asked. He gives the impression of obedience.

"but he didn’t go." - This is the crucial part. Despite his initial agreement, the second son does not follow through with his actions. He lies. He's all talk and no action.

The meaning in the context of the parable:

This verse is meant to illustrate a type of hypocrisy. The second son represents people who:

Profess faith or obedience outwardly: They say the right things and may even appear to be devout or dutiful.
Fail to follow through with actions: Their lives don't reflect their words. They don't actually do the work that is required of them. They lack true commitment.

The overall parable:

In the parable, the first son initially refuses to work but later repents and does so. The second son agrees but does nothing. Jesus asks the listeners which son did the will of the father, and they correctly answer that it was the first son. Jesus then uses this to point out that tax collectors and prostitutes (who were initially considered outcasts) will enter the Kingdom of God before the religious leaders (who outwardly appear righteous) because the outcasts repented and believed in John the Baptist, while the religious leaders did not despite seeing the change in the outcasts.

In summary, Matthew 21:30 highlights the importance of actions over words. It warns against empty promises and emphasizes that true obedience requires both a willingness to comply and the actual follow-through of doing what is asked.

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