μεταμεληθείς, ‘having changed his mind,’ felt regret but not repentance or metanoia, a deeper and more lasting feeling: see ch. Matthew 3:2.

According to a well-supported reading (see Crit. Notes) the cases of the two sons are reversed. The first agrees but goes not, the second refuses but afterwards works in the vineyard. The variation is interesting, because it points to an interpretation by which the two sons represent Jew and Gentile.

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Old Testament