Matthew 21:31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

Did

2 Peter 3:9

The first

Luke 7:40

Luke 19:22

Romans 3:19

Verily

Matthew 5:18

Matthew 6:5

Matthew 18:3

The publicans

General references

Luke 15:1

Bible References

Did

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

"Behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my brother and sister and mother."

"Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."

"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men that they should all, everywhere, repent;

The Lord does not loiter over his promise, as some men esteem loitering; but he is longsuffering toward you, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should pass on to repentance.

The first

Jesus then spoke to him. "Simon, I have a word to say to you." "Rabbi, say on," he replied.

"He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow.

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be shut, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Verily

"In solemn truth I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a comma, will pass from the Law until all has taken place.

"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they have their reward in full.

"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.

The publicans

As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man called Mathew sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."

"So the last shall be first, and the first, last."

On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John;

Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him.

"Today is salvation come to this house," said Jesus "since Zaccheus here is a son of Abraham.

Now law was brought in so that transgression might abound; but where sin abounded, grace super-abounded;

What then shall we say? That Gentiles who never pursed righteousness have overtaken it, even the righteousness of faith?

although I had formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a doer of outrage. But I obtained mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.

General references

"But many who are first shall be last, and many who are last shall be first.

Later on Levi was sitting at table in his house, and together with Jesus and his disciples a number of tax-gatherers and sinners were guests, for there were many of them who used to follow him.

But many who are first shall be last, and the last, first."

There came to him publicans also to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what must we do?"

And the Pharisees and their scribes began complaining to his disciples, saying, "Why are you eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?"

"And lo, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."

Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him.