Whether 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.
Whether of them twain did the will of his Father? They say unto him, The first. [Instead of ho (G3588) prootos (G4413), "the first," Tregelles reads ho (G3588) husteros (G5306), 'the latter,' contrary not only to the manifest sense of the parable, but to the decided preponderance, as we think, of manuscript authority. Tischendorf adheres to the Received Text.] Now comes the application.
Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go - or 'are going;' even now entering, while ye hold back.
Into the kingdom of God before you. The publicans and the harlots were the first son, who, when told to work in the Lord's vineyard, said, I will not; but afterward repented and went. Their early life was a flat and flagrant refusal to do what they were commanded; it was one continued rebellion against the authority of God. "The chief priests and the elders of the people," with whom our Lord was now speaking, were the second son, who said, I go, Sir, but went not. They were early called, and all their life long professed obedience to God, but never rendered it; their life was one of continued disobedience.