Matthew 21:28 – 32

Parable of 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.’

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.

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”

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.

32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

This parable is telling of the preparation for the kingdom, which is the Church which Jesus was setting up. Jesus uses a family unit to get his message across. God is the father, the first son is the sinners of the Jewish community, publicans and harlots of verse 31, and the second son represents the Jewish hierarchy, the chief priests and elders of the religious world of the Jewish nation.

Both sons were asked to work in the vineyard by the father. As all ranks of Jews were invited to accept the work of preparation for the kingdom (church) of heaven which was soon to be placed in operation.

Actually the publicans and harlots did not refuse the favors offered them, but to get the message across Jesus uses this language to show they had a better opinion of the kingdom than did the others in this story.

The second son, shows that the Jewish hierarchy, the priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees showed outwardly a great interest in God's work, through the effort of John the Baptist, and Jesus, but the final outcome shows they rejected Jesus and led the effort to kill Him.

The kingdom (church) of heaven was not set up during the lifetime of John, but his work was for the preparation for the establishment of the kingdom and whatever attitude anyone showed toward his work was recorded as being for or against the kingdom.

What John taught was righteous, thus it is referred to as “the way of righteousness,” and the self-righteous Jews only pretended to accept his teaching but did not do so.

(Matthew 3:7 – 8[ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, ])(Matthew 21:25[The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

(Matthew 21:25[The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’])

We learned this point in our last study.

But those who were of the lower classes and the classes which were always classed as the “sinners” did accept the teaching of John and came to be baptized for the remission of their sins. This shows the son which refused to work in the vineyard and then repented of his actions and served his father as he should, he did the will of his father.

This message points out it is not what we say we will do spiritually but what we actually do in our service to Christ which is how we will be judged by God. It is important we do the will of our Father in heaven.