Parable of the Two Sons

September 19, 2011 Monday Message:

In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus teaches the parable of the Two Sons. When asked to help in the family business, the first son refuses, but later has a change of heart and goes to work. The second son answers respectfully: “Yes, sir, I will work,” but never shows up. Both kinds still sit in our pews nowadays.

The first son represents someone who sinned against the Father, but later repented and returned, and was once again accepted into the Holy family. We’ve all walked in those shoes.

The second said all the right things, but failed to do what he said. Like the Pharisees, this type keeps up the external appearance of religion, but their heart is not right with God.

Spurgeon summarizes, “They talk of repenting, but they do not repent. They speak of believing, but they never believe. They think of submitting to God, but they have not submitted themselves to him yet. They say it is time they broke up the fallow ground and sought the Lord, but they do not seek him. It all ends in a mere promise.”

The danger of living like the second son is, in spite of knowing that the Word of God is true and promising to do the Father’s work, it never actually happens, which amounts to lying to the Holy Spirit. Bad idea. Jesus says that religious outcasts like corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes (who repent) will enter the kingdom before these self-righteous hypocrites.

What matters is truly living for God, not just saying words that sound right. The priests and elders were good at reciting religious verbiage, but their stubborn hearts remind us that repentant sinners will enter the kingdom before them.

Blessings,

Norton Lawellin