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Matthew

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21

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31

“

Which of the two did the will of the father?” They say, “The first.” Jesus says to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go before you into the kingdom of God.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Which Who, which, what, why. IPro-NMS H5101 τίς tis
two Two. Adj-GMP H1417 δύο duo
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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did (a) to make, manufacture, construct, (b) to do, act, cause. V-AIA-3S H4160 ἐποίησεν epoiēsen
will An act of will, will; plural: wishes, desires. N-ANS H2307 θέλημα thelēma
father?” Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. N-GMS H3962 πατρός patros
They say, (denoting speech in progress), (a) to say, speak; to mean, mention, tell, (b) to call, name, especially in the pass., (c) to tell, command. V-PIA-1S H3004 λέγουσιν legousin
first.” First, before, principal, most important. Adj-NMS H4413 ὕστερος usteros
Jesus Jesus; the Greek form of Joshua; Jesus, son of Eliezer; Jesus, surnamed Justus. N-NMS H2424 Ἰησοῦς iēsous
Analysis:
Read more about: Jesus
says (denoting speech in progress), (a) to say, speak; to mean, mention, tell, (b) to call, name, especially in the pass., (c) to tell, command. V-PIA-1S H3004 λέγει legei
“Truly Verily, truly, amen; at the end of sentences may be paraphrased by: So let it be. Heb H281 ἀμὴν amēn
I say (denoting speech in progress), (a) to say, speak; to mean, mention, tell, (b) to call, name, especially in the pass., (c) to tell, command. V-PIA-1S H3004 λέγω legō
tax collectors A publican, collector of taxes. N-NMP H5057 τελῶναι telōnai
prostitutes A prostitute; an idolatrous community. N-NFP H4204 πόρναι pornai
go before (a) to lead forth; in the judicial sense, into court, (b) to precede, go before, (c) to go too far. V-PIA-3P H4254 προάγουσιν proagousin
kingdom Kingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, especially of God, both in the world, and in the hearts of men; hence: kingdom, in the concrete sense. N-AFS H932 βασιλείαν basileian
of God. (a) God, (b) a god, generally. N-GMS H2316 θεοῦ theou
Analysis:

God God God

People

Jesus

Jesus or Joshua, the name of the Messiah, also three other Isr.  

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
Berean Bible Which of the two did the will of the father?” They say, “The first.” Jesus says to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go before you into the kingdom of God.
King James Bible Which Whether of the two them twain did the will of the father?” his father? They say, “The first.” say unto him, The first. Jesus says to saith unto them, “Truly Verily I say to you that unto you, That the tax collectors publicans and the prostitutes harlots go before you into the kingdom of God.God before you.
Hebrew Greek English Which "Which of the two did the will of the father?” his father?" They say, “The said, "The first.” " Jesus says said to them, “Truly "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go before you will get into the kingdom of God.God before you.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Which "Which of the two did the will of the father?” his father?" They say, “The said, "The first.” " Jesus says said to them, “Truly "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go before you will get into the kingdom of God.God before you.