Opening Prayer
Father God, we come to study about Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. In our study tonight, Jesus offers criticism of those who profess to be religious, but have no heart for God. Bless those who are here tonight with the perfect understanding of those things which You would have us learn from this study. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch, give them reassurance, comfort and strength to endure. We ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
The Pharisees had just challenged Jesus’ authority and He responded by asking them to identify John the Baptist’s authority. They refused to say that John’s authority was from Heaven because they didn’t like John nor what he preached. But they knew what John was proclaiming - that Jesus was the Messiah. They refused to say that John’s authority was from Satan because they feared the crowds. So Jesus refused to answer them, by what authority he was doing what he proclaimed as his fathers will. Then he speaks a parable directed to those who were questioning Him.
The Parable of The Two Sons
Mat 21:28-32 "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.
There are five representations in this parable (1) The father as God the father of both sons, both Jews and gentiles in this case, (2) The first son as the Gentiles, who at first resisted Him as the Messiah, but later repented and believed, (3) The second son as the self righteous Jews and religious leaders who wanted nothing to do with John or with Jesus, (4) The abundant Grace and Forgiveness of God, and (5) The unrepentant hard hearted Jews, and religious leaders of that day, who would not believe.
Jesus is confronting the elders and chief priests, and religious leaders who were adamant about protecting their laws and traditions against one who appeared to be reinterpreting the law, and rejecting tradition, and who overthrew the money changers, and upset their commercial use of the temple.
Q.1 Why were the people listening to and beginning to follow Jesus ?
Q.2 What decisions faced the religious leaders of the day, concerning Jesus ?
Q.3 When we say that we are followers of Jesus, what does that statement convey to others?
Q.4 Why did the religious leaders of that day have difficulty with Jesus teaching?
Q.5 Of the conflicts described in this parable, what are some comparisons in our present day?
Pg.2
Mat 21:28-32 "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.
Here we have “a man” which we might suppose to be God, but for the purpose of this parable, he was a father to two sons. Under the emblem of these two sons, one of whom was disobedient, and insolent, but who after reflecting on his ways and having a conscience for what is right, repented of his ways and returned to serve his father.
There are people like this son, who when they first hear the call from God to go work in his vineyard, they flatly refuse, but after a time of reflection and repentance they have a change of heart, and actually want to be in the service of God. Jesus uses the tax collectors and prostitutes of that day, to illustrate those who were changed, and believed the preaching of John.
There are those times in everyone’s life when we are faced with a task that we do not want to do, or a request for our time that we do not wish to share. We sometimes react in a manner similar to one or other of the two sons in this parable. The father of these two sons never made a demand on either son, But there are of course certain expectations, and needs. The vineyard must be worked, and each son knew that it was time for their participation in the effort of keeping the fathers vineyard, It is not as if they did not know.
Our Father God does not make demands on us, and we are free to choose to refuse his leading. But we also are privileged to enjoy the life God has given us, and in refusing his teachings, we should know that our decisions have consequences. God will see to that. The time to do the right thing will become evident to the truly repentant.
Q.1 Describe the feeling one gets when rebelling against a thing that you know you should do?
Q.2 What is it that could make one have a change of heart, and turn back to do the right thing?
Q.3 After rebelling, might one actually want to repent? Do you suppose this first son felt that?
Q.4 Jesus is speaking to the scribes and the chief priests and those that have come out against John’s preaching and teaching. Why was John’s teaching being rejected by this certain group of people? Read Matt. 3:1-12
Pg.3
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
Here we have the second son, a hypocrite, who promised to go, but did nothing. Jesus points out, on the one hand, the tax-gatherers and sinners of all descriptions, who had been convicted by the preaching of John and that of Christ, and who had turned away from their iniquities and embraced the Gospel. Then this second son who spoke the words that answered his fathers desire to have his son do as he asked, but proved to be a liar, not trustworthy nor did he have a care for doing what pleased his father. His interests were self serving and did not include his fathers request.
We learn, that one father can beget children of vastly differing characters. And indeed, we all have one Heavenly Father, and there are great differences in the characters of men.
The first son did the father's will. But with a second glance, we see that both sons brought dishonor to the father, the first by his words, the second by his deeds. Neither son was in the right. One had the words, and the other had the deeds. We remember from Matthew's conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount that merely saying the right words does not ensure entry into the kingdom of heaven. Active obedience to Jesus' teachings must be present The first son was initially, not only obstinate, but also rude and self serving, when answering “I will not” The second son’s words, in contrast, were pure hypocrisy, an attempt to, for the moment, make himself sound like a loyal son, but proved to be a liar as he spoke the words “I will sir” while knowing full well that he would not do as the father requested.
The first son repented: “Later he changed his mind and went.” This was true repentance, for it led to practical obedience. The second son simply did not go. He represents easy going, self-complacent, selfish and, self serving people who take their own virtue for granted, thinking they are controlling their own Salvation.
Q.1 The second son says yes, but then does not do as asked by the father. In this parable we are not given a reason for either sons decision. What do we think the reason might be for his deceit?
Q.2 There is a threshold whereby one will act on a certain thing to be done, or not. Usually there are consequences to be considered. What might the consequences be in this case?
Q.3 In this case both sons did the opposite of what they said, Jesus is illustrating the attitudes toward the father of each son. How does this fit with what you know of the world today?
Q.4 What impression is left with the father in both cases?
Pg.4
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.
Here we see the great value of the parable, for the answer to Jesus’ question is so obvious. Men are much more ready to point out the faults of others, before they see their own. “He compels them to realize and even to declare their own guilt. ‘The first,’ they answered.”
Then Jesus tells them that the publicans and the harlots, having heard John and repented will go into the kingdom of God before them. They represent the first son. They embraced the Messiah, believed in him. And it is easy to observe, that a poor profane sinner may, by the grace of God, be brought to repentance, and then become willing to go and work in the Lord's vineyard and be at last glorified.
Then there is the self righteous person, notwithstanding all his fair promises and resolutions to do the right thing, his professions of, and pretensions to religion, neither repents of his sins, nor believes in Jesus as the Messiah. He has no share in the kingdom of grace here, nor will he enter into the kingdom of glory.
So, this parable becomes a warning to all those who show lip-service to the Father. We learn that faith does not consist merely in a person giving subscription to true doctrine, but also includes something greater and deeper: This parable is a gift of hope to those who had sinned in the past—even grievous sinners—who repent, and obey and serve the Father. “Let it be a settled principle in our Christianity that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely willing to receive penitent sinners. It matters nothing what one has been in time past. When repentance is genuine, and one has come to Christ? Then old things are passed away, and all things are become new.
Q.1 Why was Jesus so critical of the scribes and chief priests and elders of the people?
Q.2 What has John to do with all of this?
Q.3 What is a proper explanation of “The way of righteousness” that John was teaching?
Q.4 What was the common view of “Prostitutes and tax collectors” of that day?
Q.5 What was symbolic of the Pharisees of that day?
Q.6 We are given choices in life, just as in this parable. We can choose to serve God or not serve God. What will have the most influence in helping us make our decision?
Pg.5
Closing Prayer
Father God, be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. Some are ill some are conflicted, all need your healing power.___________ We pray now that we may have Your guidance to do the right thing as we continue in our day to day living, It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN
Meditation
Well-meaning people often advise you to “do the right thing.” “What does that even mean?” You want to ask. “How do I know what the right thing is? But if we’re honest with ourselves, there is always a choice that at times, somehow sits better inside us. We understand our being naturally inclined to one choice as an indication that we ought then to give more consideration to the other. Yet we are drawn to one or the other.
So much of our younger lives are about learning to follow instructions, to obey boundaries, and to flourish within the systems in which we’re enrolled–all of which are worthwhile lessons. Now however, we are long past those school days. There is no all-powerful “should;” there is no “have to.” and there is no one with absolute sway over our decisions. There are those however that can influence us though, and we must always be on guard. 1Pe 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. We must see to it that our decisions are not governed and lorded over by an outside force, that does not necessarily have our best interests at heart. Such as the poor people, harlots and publicans of Jesus’ day who were lorded over by the religious leaders of that day.
The teachings of Jesus give us the freedom to be our best, to live the life that Jesus teaches as the most fulfilling and most true to God. Then to serve the world on the terms that Jesus has laid out in parable after parable. The Christian has the same choices to make as do non-Christians. However as Christians we are held to a higher morality than those who do not believe. Our guideline is the guiding light that shines through our study of the Bible. Not necessarily as Presbyterians, or Baptists or as Catholics, but as Christ-ians, followers of the way. It is the scarlet thread of redemption that threads it’s way throughout the Bible from “The Fall of Man” to “The Apocalypse and The Consummation of The Age”. The life and times of the men of God, The teachings of Jesus as given to us in His Parables. The word of God from the mouth of God, the one who is of God and Sent to us by God, for the sole purpose of teaching us how to arrive at Heavens Gate with our “Redemption Certificate” of Salvation from our Savior Jesus Christ. Pay close attention to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Then we are commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations.
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