Parables - Intentions vs Action
Parable of the Two Sons
“Now what do you think? A man had two sons, and he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘I won’t,’ but afterward he had a change of heart and went. The man went to the second son and said the same thing. But he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ and didn’t go. Which of the two did the will of the father?”
“The first,” they said.
Yeshua said to them, “Amen, I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and even after you saw this, you had no change of heart to believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-33
[This is the 9th lesson in this series]
Jesus told this parable (story) after the chief priests and elders asked Him on what authority does He do the things He was doing.
As in other cases, Jesus responded with a question back for them and by telling a story. It was a story about two sons.
Mistakes in the Past
In this parable, Jesus wanted to show an analogy that people who have missed the mark in the past or developed a reputation as sinners, once they have a change of heart and did what was asked of them are ahead of the line to enter into the Kingdom of God than those who appear to have it all together, those who look good in the outside or are merely offering lip service but in fact do not really follow through with what they say. The latter are nothing but noisy gongs, clanging cymbals and whitewashed tombs, beautiful in the outside but dead corpses in the inside.
Common Story
Jesus shared a story about two sons who were the exact opposites.
God is always looking at the heart and the first son represents those who made past mistakes but later on realizes that what they have been doing were wrong.
In this story, the first son realizes that it wasn't right for him to respond to their father like that. And so he repented (turned around 180 degrees) and did what his father asked of him.
The second son responded in a way that he thinks his father wanted to hear from him. But I don't think he had any intentions of doing what he said he will do.
As in other cases, Jesus responded with a question back for them and by telling a story. It was a story about two sons.
Mistakes in the Past
In this parable, Jesus wanted to show an analogy that people who have missed the mark in the past or developed a reputation as sinners, once they have a change of heart and did what was asked of them are ahead of the line to enter into the Kingdom of God than those who appear to have it all together, those who look good in the outside or are merely offering lip service but in fact do not really follow through with what they say. The latter are nothing but noisy gongs, clanging cymbals and whitewashed tombs, beautiful in the outside but dead corpses in the inside.
Common Story
Jesus shared a story about two sons who were the exact opposites.
God is always looking at the heart and the first son represents those who made past mistakes but later on realizes that what they have been doing were wrong.
In this story, the first son realizes that it wasn't right for him to respond to their father like that. And so he repented (turned around 180 degrees) and did what his father asked of him.
The second son responded in a way that he thinks his father wanted to hear from him. But I don't think he had any intentions of doing what he said he will do.
It was just for show and to look good in his father's eyes and others who could hear. He already has made up his mind, possibly thinking he was too good for that or that this was beneath him.
What's In the Heart
But as we already discussed, God looks at the heart. He doesn't look at things like the world does. He looks at the unseen things.
He does not look at the past but at possibilities and at what lies ahead. He calls sinners to repentance and loves on them. This love is the same love these wretched individuals use to love Him back.
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was the last one called by God to trailblaze the way for the first coming of Christ. His message for repentance was heard and responded to by sinners.
But as we already discussed, God looks at the heart. He doesn't look at things like the world does. He looks at the unseen things.
He does not look at the past but at possibilities and at what lies ahead. He calls sinners to repentance and loves on them. This love is the same love these wretched individuals use to love Him back.
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was the last one called by God to trailblaze the way for the first coming of Christ. His message for repentance was heard and responded to by sinners.
Yet those who look righteous in their own eyes and who have groomed themselves to be above this call for repentance missed out on the trail that should have led them straight to the Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They missed their chance.
Brothers
The Old Testament bible is full of brothers totally opposites or even against each other. Easy enough for those hearing this story at that time to identify who's Cain and who's Abel, who's Ishmael and who's Isaac and distinguish between twin brothers Jacob and Esau and between Joseph and his older brothers or David and his brothers.
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