21:28–32 The parable of the two sons is recorded only by Matthew. It is the first of three parables directed against the religious leaders of the day. Jesus calls on them to give him their judgment about which of the two sons did the will of his father. When the first (some take prōtos to be the older) was asked to work … in the vineyard, he refused, but later changed his mind (he was “smitten with regret,” Rotherham) and went. The other son said he would go (notice the polite egō kyrie, I will, sir) but did not. Those to whom Jesus spoke answered correctly that it was the first son who did what his father wanted.

The second son represents the professedly religious Jews who rejected Jesus, while the first son represents the p…