A Tale of Two Sons

Image result for parable of two sons

The Parable of the Two Sons

Matthew 21:28 “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.
This story seems very simple at first glance as do many of Jesus' stories.  But before Jesus tells this parable he asks his listeners, "What do you think?"  He is deliberately telling this story to elicit a response.  In the story one son said he would go to work and then decided against it.  The other one at first refused to work and then "changed his mind" and went into the Vineyard to do the job.  
Note that Jesus was teaching publicly in the temple. The parables were an indictment against the Pharisees.  The religious leaders were good at talking about righteous things, but their hearts were far from God.  Instead of repenting of their "hard heartedness" when John the Baptist preached to them, they doubled down and starting thinking about a way to get rid of him.  Meanwhile the notorious sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) said they would follow Jesus and they did.  Though they might not have started out their lives as God followers, when the heard the Good News they repented and followed Jesus. 
While it is important to confess what we believe, these words don't mean anything unless we are willing to follow God and work in His vineyard.  Actions speak louder than words.  At the very essence of the word "repent" is a change of mind that leads to a change of life.  Our faith is actualized as we do the things God has called us to do.  God has a job to do in the Vineyard, which represents the world.  As we work in the Vineyard, we bear fruit.  The fruit of more people coming to know Jesus.  
Which son are you more like?  Have you told God you would live for him only to fall back into old habits and behaviors that show your true allegiance?  Or, have you realized God's grace and invitation to turn from a life consumed with yourself to a life of eternal significance.  One day God will return to the Vineyard and reap the harvest of all those who have given their lives to him. Let's get to work.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why a...
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the...
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in ...
Read more