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 every one who says to me, 'Master, Master,' will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to my Father who is in Heaven.

To obey my Father who is in Heaven--that is to be my brother and my sister and my mother."

"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

Those times of ignorance God viewed with indulgence. But now He commands all men everywhere to repent,

The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, in the sense in which some men speak of slowness. But He bears patiently with you, His desire being that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The first

In answer to his thoughts Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have a word to say to you." "Rabbi, say on," he replied.

"'By your own words,' he replied, 'I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow:

But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed to those who are living under the Law, in order that every mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await sentence from God.

Verily

Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place.

"And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

said, "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

The publicans

Passing on thence Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, "Follow me." And he arose, and followed Him.

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

And all the people, including the tax-gatherers, when they listened to him upheld the righteousness of God, by being baptized with John's baptism.

Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;

Turning towards him, Jesus replied, "To-day salvation has come to this house, seeing that he too is a son of Abraham.

Now Law was brought in later on, so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace has overflowed;

To what conclusion does this bring us? Why, that the Gentiles, who were not in pursuit of righteousness, have overtaken it--a righteousness, however, which arises from faith;

though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and had been insolent in outrage. Yet mercy was shown me, because I had acted ignorantly, not having as yet believed;

General references

"But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

When He was sitting at table in Levi's house, a large number of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners were at table with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many such who habitually followed Him.

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

There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?"

This led the Pharisees and Scribes of their party to expostulate with His disciples and ask, "Why are you eating and drinking with these tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?"

And I tell you that some now last will then be first, and some now first will then be last."

Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;