Who Is Getting Into Heaven First? The Parable of the Two Sons Matthew 21:28-32

The Parable of the Two Sons

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.’

As Jesus' journey moves toward the cross, he uses the opportunity to teach using his favorite method, parables.  He will teach three parables in a row, which all seem to implicate the Jewish leaders and their rejection of him.  The first parable is about a man who had two sons. It would have been was perfectly logical his sons into the vineyard to work.  

The father spoke to each son individually in making his request.  Important he asks his son to "work today".  There was an urgency to his request. 

29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Though he spoke against it, later he changed his mind and went.  He spoke wrong, but did right. 
"I will not - This had been the language of the publicans and wicked men. They refused at first, and did not "profess" to be willing to go. Repented - Changed his mind. Afterward, at the preaching of John and Christ, the publicans - the wicked - repented and obeyed." (Barnes)

30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

The other son's answer and action was exactly the opposite. 

"The second ...said, I go sir; and went not - This represented the conduct of the scribes and Pharisees - "professing" to obey God, observing the external rites of religion, but opposed really to the kingdom of God, and about to put his Son to death." (Barnes)

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. 

One has to take into account how offensive this would have been to the Jewish leaders.  Tax collectors and prostitutes were considered the "scum of the earth".  For Jesus to say that they were going to be in the kingdom of God ahead of them, would have been shocking in any situation.  Jesus is moving toward the cross and he realizes his eventual demise will come at their hands, but he still doesn't hold back.  

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.

Jesus finally applies the parable directly to the leaders.  He is not afraid of offending them.  We don't hear their response yet we will see tomorrow they are not happy about it and ready to do something about it, 

The Pharisees were even more accountable because they should have known the role of John the Baptist and repented when he preached.  

"These proud religionists should have repented all the more when they saw the notorious sinners repenting, but they did not."

Who would these two sons represent today?  The church?  The person who accepts Christ and then falls away?  Those who say they follow Christ, but lead basically unchanged lives?  Who are the prostitutes and publicans in our day?  How would you feel if you were compared to them?