The Two Sons
The Two Sons
28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
Matthew 21:28
Jesus could take a mundane aspect of life and create a huge lesson from it. Here’s a simple story about a father and his two sons. The father asks his sons to work in his vineyard. This is something that in one way or another happens every day. The response from the two sons is also very common.
29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
Matthew 21:29-30
One son speaks in the moment and says no but later regrets his decision and attitude and does it. The second, trying to be nice says yes, but his true nature comes out and he ends up doing nothing. How many people have changed their minds in this world? So far there’s nothing to be amazed about but then Jesus asks a simple question.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
Matthew 21:31
It is with this question that the story opens wide open. Because we often make these decisions, like the two sons, we take for granted the lesson that can be learned. Who did the father’s will? What a powerful question. Simply saying yes is meaningless. Words without action are meaningless. Yet, how often do we do just that? How many times do we speak nice words, pretend to be nice people, but our true character is shown in our actions?
They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:31
Jesus really drives it home by bringing up the most hated people to the Jews and saying that they have a better chance at heaven than the smooth talking religious leaders.
Let us all look at our lives and see if our nice words match our actions. Do we really want to be behind harlots and tax collectors too?
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto