The Parable of the Two Sons - Matthew 21:28-32
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Reflection: As Jesus continued to reflect on the behavior of the religious leaders, he told this parable. The first son rejected the father outwardly, yet proved by his actions to make good on his promise. The second son gave verbal assent, but proved by his actions that the promise was false. Jesus likens this to the situation with the John the Baptist. While he was the long awaited prophet and the Jewish leaders gave lip service to who he was, when he confronted their hypocrisy, they went to kill him. Whereas the more public sinners, the tax collectors and prostitute repented and believed. The fruit of their belief was a change of their way of life. Actions speak louder than words!!
Jesus used this method of teaching, so those who needed to be reproved by it would hopefully come to the conclusion that the parable was about them. Similar to the Old Testament, when the prophet Nathan told David a parable that ultimately indicted him in his sin with Bathsheba and he repented. We see again Jesus gives no preference based on worldly status. Just like the two sons were given equal opportunity to go work out in the field, all people are given the chance to hear the gospel, believe and repent. Just like the father in the story didn't play favorites, nor does our Heavenly Father. Jesus came to His own people the Jews to offer them the path to God, but when they rejected Him, He also went to the Gentiles (the rest of the world) to offer the free gift of eternal life.
So the question is how does this relate to us today? Which son are you more like? Did you originally say yes, and now your actions prove your promise to be false. Or, have you turned back to God and are following Jesus, after originally rejecting Him. The thing is God is still waiting for any who are willing to repent and believe, to come back to Him. Like the parable of the Prodigal Son, God scans the horizon waiting for the lost to come home. Lost people matter to God. You matter to God. He proved that by sending His only Son to die for you on the cross, so that you might have life and have it to the full.
Jesus, help us to be like the son whose actions ultimately proved louder than his initial words. Keep us from being like the Son who said yes with his lips but denied him by his lifestyle. We know it is by Your Spirit that we are led to change our mind and follow you. And your Spirit keeps us united to Jesus in the one true faith. Amen.
Reflection: As Jesus continued to reflect on the behavior of the religious leaders, he told this parable. The first son rejected the father outwardly, yet proved by his actions to make good on his promise. The second son gave verbal assent, but proved by his actions that the promise was false. Jesus likens this to the situation with the John the Baptist. While he was the long awaited prophet and the Jewish leaders gave lip service to who he was, when he confronted their hypocrisy, they went to kill him. Whereas the more public sinners, the tax collectors and prostitute repented and believed. The fruit of their belief was a change of their way of life. Actions speak louder than words!!
Jesus used this method of teaching, so those who needed to be reproved by it would hopefully come to the conclusion that the parable was about them. Similar to the Old Testament, when the prophet Nathan told David a parable that ultimately indicted him in his sin with Bathsheba and he repented. We see again Jesus gives no preference based on worldly status. Just like the two sons were given equal opportunity to go work out in the field, all people are given the chance to hear the gospel, believe and repent. Just like the father in the story didn't play favorites, nor does our Heavenly Father. Jesus came to His own people the Jews to offer them the path to God, but when they rejected Him, He also went to the Gentiles (the rest of the world) to offer the free gift of eternal life.
So the question is how does this relate to us today? Which son are you more like? Did you originally say yes, and now your actions prove your promise to be false. Or, have you turned back to God and are following Jesus, after originally rejecting Him. The thing is God is still waiting for any who are willing to repent and believe, to come back to Him. Like the parable of the Prodigal Son, God scans the horizon waiting for the lost to come home. Lost people matter to God. You matter to God. He proved that by sending His only Son to die for you on the cross, so that you might have life and have it to the full.
Jesus, help us to be like the son whose actions ultimately proved louder than his initial words. Keep us from being like the Son who said yes with his lips but denied him by his lifestyle. We know it is by Your Spirit that we are led to change our mind and follow you. And your Spirit keeps us united to Jesus in the one true faith. Amen.
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