Logo
 

 

The Parables of Jesus 2: The two sons go to work

Matthew 21: 28-32


twoSons I want you to imagine the scene. We have a family with two adolescent sons. One is neat and tidy and studying carefully. The other is slouched in the armchair linked up to his latest iPod, listening to music. Dad comes in and goes up to the son, slouched in the armchair. “Son, I want you to go and work in the fields for me today.” “No way,” says the son. He probably is thinking, “Why should I work when I can do my own thing?” I’ve got my rights. So he just stays where he is. Dad goes to the other son and asks the same question. “Of course, sir, I will go.” What a polite son, but let’s see what happens.
The first son has a guilty conscience. “I ought to go and help dad. After all he has done a lot for me. I was rather rude to him.” So off he goes and works in the vineyard.
But what happened to the other brother? Well, he never went to work. Something must have stopped him. Perhaps when he said yes he was engrossed in his studies. Perhaps on the way he got distracted. Maybe he had no intention of going, but knew what to say to please his dad. Whatever it was he didn’t actually go and work for his dad.
 
Jesus then asks, “Which son was the better one?”
 
"One of the sons did better than he said, proved better than he promised. His answer was bad, but his actions were good.
The other son said better than he did, promised better than he proved; his answer was good but his actions bad.
Jesus was pointing these questions at the religious leaders.
They paid lip service to God but did not do as they were supposed to. They listened to John but ignored what he said. They told people what to do but did not do it themselves. They were hypocrites.
The scribes and Pharisees, the chief priests and elders, and indeed the Jewish nation in general, were like the other son that gave good words; they made a superficial profession of religion, and yet, when the kingdom of the Messiah was brought among them by the baptism of John, they gave an aloof sort of approval to his message and then they slighted it, they turned their back upon it. "

(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

However Jesus points out that the tax collectors, considered the lowest of the low, and the prostitutes had heard John’s message and they repented, so they would be accepted in the Kingdom. Jesus did not mince his words when talking to the Pharisees.
 

So what can we learn ourselves from this story?


I would suggest that we can the following points from it.
1.       The father expected help from his kids.                                                 
Do you expect your children to help out at home? In fact do you think it is reasonable that you should ask your children to help? Too many youngsters today have an expectation of things just being handed to them on a plate. Too many think they have their rights and that does not include helping out. They do not learn responsibility. By encouraging them to be active members of the family and take their share in the work of the household you are helping them for the future and teaching them to be responsible members of society. It will also help them to have a good work ethic when they start a job.
2.       God is our Father and He expects us to work in his vineyard, the church.                   
 God does not want us to be passive members. For many years churches have appointed leaders and the people have felt that they were the ones to do the work. The leaders ended up with burnout because they could no do everything. There is a danger that we leave the work to the willing ones. There are always some who will do more than others. I have heard it said, “If you want a job done, ask someone who is already engaged in some activities in the church.” I would ask, “Is that fair?” This is not part of God’s plan for us. We each have a role to play in the church to make it more effective. Ask God what He wants you to do. Think about what you can or could do if you had the opportunity. Every one of us should be active. ‘Ministry and mission’ is for all of us, not just one or two. Can we encourage the children to play a part in this? We are already encouraging them to share the gospel with their friends through being kind and helpful.
3.       The reaction of the first son.                                                                     
To refuse in the way he did was culturally considered totally unacceptable. It was virtually unheard of for a child to refuse their father’s request. Manners are often seen far more in other cultures than in our own. You could just imagine the Pharisees picking up on this. They would think to themselves what a dreadful son. Yet there was repentance and a turning around. He not only regretted what he had said but went and did what he had been asked. I wonder how the father would have felt when he saw his son working in the vineyard. Are there times when we have said “No” to God and then regretted it? Maybe we haven’t verbally said no but we may have gone our on way. God allows repentance and turning around. He is a God of grace and mercy. This could be seen in the passage we read when we see that those who went their own way then repented and turned to God and Jesus said they would be in the Kingdom.
4.       The reaction of the second son.                                                        
What a nice polite boy, I can imagine the Pharisees saying. However, it’s no use being polite and saying you will do something if you have no intention of fulfilling that promise. The Pharisees had to admit that he was not a good son.  None of us are exempt from this. We will sometimes say yes and then will get sidetracked from what we meant to do. I hold my hands up here and say that I have done this at times. It’s so easy to say yes even if we know that we cannot fulfil the commitment. I have often heard people talk about being able to say no. It is much better to be honest. We don’t have to be rude like the first son. People will appreciate you far more. Maybe we need to give ourselves reminders if we have offered to do something. We sometimes need to organise our lives more so that we can fulfil what we have promised to do.  Learn to be honest. There was dishonesty in this son’s reply, because he said he was going and he didn’t.  Yesterday I read about David. Here was a man who kept his word. He made an agreement with Jonathan that he would be kind to his family when he was gone. The way Saul had treated him could have made him say, “Well I made a vow to Jonathan, but he’s gone now and because of he way I’ve been treated I can forget that now.” However he did not do that. Instead he asked if there were any relatives of Saul still alive so that he could show them kindness. How would I react in that situation? 
What is our response?
There may be things that you have been challenged by today. If this is so, please do not leave here without talking to someone and asking them to pray for you. You may be like me and have said yes to a request and then not fulfilled it. It’s not too late to change. You may have said no and are having second thoughts. It’s not too late to put it right. You may be wondering what you can do to be an active member of the church. Ask someone to pray with you for guidance. Above all ask God what He is saying to you.
 

Christine Foster, 11/12/2012