“The father went
To the second son.
He said the same thing.
The second son answered.
‘I will go!’
But he did not go.”
προσελθὼν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ εἶπεν ὡσαύτως. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν Οὐ θέλω, ὕστερον μεταμεληθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν.
This parable is unique to Matthew, somewhat like the parable of the day laborers in the vineyard in chapter 20:1-16. Jesus continued his parable story with the father landowner going to his second son (προσελθὼν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ). He told this second son the same thing (εἶπεν ὡσαύτως) that he had said to his first son. He wanted him to go out and work in the vineyard today. The second son answered (ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν) that he was willing to go (Οὐ θέλω) into the vineyard and work that day. However, afterwards, he changed his mind. He did not go to work in the vineyard. The “οὐκ” or “not” is missing in a lot of the Greek manuscripts.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 