The Parables of Jesus: The Two Sons
by Micky Galloway
“But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I (go), sir: and went not. Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him” (Matthew 21:28-32).
The Context. During the final week of Jesus in Jerusalem, He was challenged by the religious leaders. They wanted to know the nature and source of the authority which He claimed. Jesus responded by asking them a question, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men?” Now the leaders of the Jews are between the horns of dilemma. They knew if they should say that John baptized by the authority of men, they would antagonize the people who held John as a prophet. If they said John baptized by the authority of heaven, Jesus would say, “Why then did ye not believe him?” Their answer to Jesus was an effort to evade both alternatives. They said, “We know not” (Matthew 21:23-27). Of course this was a lie. It is against this backdrop that Jesus tells of a man who had two sons and a vineyard. The father tells his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first son says he will not go, but later repented and went. The second son said he would, but did not actually go.
The Application Of This Parable. The obvious question is, Which of the two did the will of his father (Matthew 21:31)? Clearly, the son who repented and went to work in the vineyard! Jesus made the application to the leaders of the Jews that had affirmed their righteousness to God, yet would not surrender their pride and obey God’s Son. “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him” (Matthew 21:31-32). These religious leaders were like the second son, who said he would go and work in his father’s vineyard, but then would not. The tax collectors and harlots however, who were despised by these religious leaders, repented at the preaching of John. They were like the first son, who first said he would not work, but then went. It must have been insulting to hear Jesus tell them that those who were held in contempt by these Jews would enter the kingdom of God before their religious leaders!
Lessons From The Parable. (1) We must be “…doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves” (James 1:22). Jesus continually emphasized, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.” “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46). (2) Though the first son who said he would not go and work in his father’s vineyard, later repented and went, there is no virtue to his obstinate defiance of his father’s will. Some evidently imagine that because they have made no pretense to be saints, they will somehow be forgiven because they are not hypocritical. What foolishness! Am I not bound to honor God and obey His commands, whether I make a promise to that effect or not? Though it is true that between one who is openly defiant and the hypocrite, the hypocrite is doubly guilty; we must not let the hypocrisy of one blind our eyes to the blatant disobedience of the other. There is a third choice! It was well that this son repented, but how much better it would have been had he never refused, but had quickly and joyfully obeyed his father. Think of the wasted time, loss of influence, mired reputation and many other consequences of willful disobedience. (3) The instruction given to both sons was, “Son, go work to-day in the vineyard” (Matthew 21:28). The scriptures emphasize the importance of today. II Corinthians 6:2 says, “behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” The Hebrew writer exhorts, “Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation” (Hebrews 3:12-15). “To-morrow,” it is said, “is the day on which idle men work, and fools reform.” The scriptures teach, “Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (James 4:13-14; Proverbs 27:1; Matthew 6:34). Let us show our diligence by beginning the work of God now, and our wisdom by reforming immediately, for the command is still, “Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.”
Many lessons may be learned from this parable, but let us remember that it was the “religious leaders” in Jesus day that “rejected for themselves the counsel of God” (Luke 7:30) refusing John’s teaching for the need of repentance and baptism. No doubt they thought themselves justified. Though God is merciful and will “abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7) even the most vile, His forgiveness is granted to those who will repent and obey.