Nov. 10, Parable of the Two Sons, Matthew 21:28-32
The context of this parable is very interesting. Jesus had just completed His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, the Sunday before His crucifixion. The next day in the Temple, the religious leaders question Jesus about His authority to teach and to cast the money changers and vendors out of the Temple courts (21:23-27). After this confrontation with the Jewish leaders, Jesus gives the parable of the Two Sons.
The context is very interesting because Jesus does something different with this parable. I said earlier how the parables were intended to hide the truth from unbelievers. In this parable, Jesus includes the explanation with the parable. Jesus has done this before, but in those times, He was alone with His disciples. This time, Jesus wanted His audience, unbelievers though they were, to get the message. Notice how hard hitting the interpretation/application is toward the Jewish leadership (21:31-32). I cannot say it any better than Jesus did.
28 “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” (Matthew 21:28-32).
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