Verse: Matthew 21:29

Quote:

28        But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

29        He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30        And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31        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.

32        For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Subject Repenting, not repenting, etc.:       In the parable, the hypothetical son repents (changes his mind) and decides to work in the vineyard.  The counterpoint of the parable is the publicans (tax collectors) and harlots believed on Jesus, but the chief priests and elders (verse 23) repented not afterward (verse 32).

Object of that repentance:    The word "repent" is presented in apposition  to "believe."  That is, they have identical meanings in this context.  The object of repentance is Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist taught the way of righteousness, and that way is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  (John 1:29).  The publicans and harlots believed John, verse 32.  The term "belief" is equivalent to repentance in verse 32.  They heard John testify of Christ, and believed him.  The Son who professed obedience, but would not honor the will of his father is like the chief priests and elders (verse 23.)  They professed religion and devotion to the Jewish Scriptures, but when Messiah, about whom all the Scriptures testified, they "repented not afterward, that [they] might believe."

In the above passage, repentance of the son (vs. 29) is presented in apposition to the publicans and harlots believing John's testimony of Jesus Christ.  And the chief priests and elders lack of repentance is equivalent to their refusal to believe John's testimony of Jesus Christ.

Consequence of lack of repentance:            The publicans and the harlots will go into the kingdom of God before you.  Repentance here is transparently related to eternal salvation.  In the Greek text, the concept of "inheriting" the kingdom ("kleronomeo") is related to the privilege of ruling and reigning with Christ, and is a reward for holy living and faithfulness to Christ.  However, entrance into the kingdom of God is not a reward for righteous living.  It is a gift to the guilty who believe on Jesus Christ for their salvation.  There is, perhaps, no passage of Scripture that more plainly states that saving repentance is simply to believe on Jesus Christ.

Repentance in Matthew 21:29