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.
The Lord Jesus in not answering them now, also speaks a parable against them, using the analogy of a man who had two sons to describe those people who repented at the preaching of John, contrasting them with those religious authorities and rulers of the people who did not. Now as the parable goes the father comes to his first son (representing the repentant people) and asks him to go and work in his vineyard, however the son was unwilling, and said he would not. However, as the parable goes afterward he regretted it and he went. Which is just like when anyone is alienated from God, serving Him and or doing His Will does mark one’s life or even thoughts. However, when one comes to believe in and receive the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves then everything changes, that is they are changed (2 Cor. 5:17). For when anyone sees their own sinfulness and need for the Lord Jesus Christ and come to Him, they then are that son who previously was unwilling to do the fathers will, but in coming to Christ they are now doing it, being saved, set free, and transformed by Him (vs. 28-29). Now as the parable goes the father then comes to his second son and asks him to go into his vineyard and work, to which he responds “I go sir!” However, he does not go (vs. 30). And so, though he sounds like he is obeying His fathers will in fact he is doing no such thing. Indeed, there is no regretting not doing so like with the first son. And so, this son represents the religious rulers and authorities and those who bore rule over the people who did not believe John and repent at his preaching and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah and King, for though they sound like they obey the Will of God, their hearts are far from Him.
Scripture Quotations: The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Commentary
Vs. 28-30 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.The Lord Jesus in not answering them now, also speaks a parable against them, using the analogy of a man who had two sons to describe those people who repented at the preaching of John, contrasting them with those religious authorities and rulers of the people who did not. Now as the parable goes the father comes to his first son (representing the repentant people) and asks him to go and work in his vineyard, however the son was unwilling, and said he would not. However, as the parable goes afterward he regretted it and he went. Which is just like when anyone is alienated from God, serving Him and or doing His Will does mark one’s life or even thoughts. However, when one comes to believe in and receive the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves then everything changes, that is they are changed (2 Cor. 5:17). For when anyone sees their own sinfulness and need for the Lord Jesus Christ and come to Him, they then are that son who previously was unwilling to do the fathers will, but in coming to Christ they are now doing it, being saved, set free, and transformed by Him (vs. 28-29). Now as the parable goes the father then comes to his second son and asks him to go into his vineyard and work, to which he responds “I go sir!” However, he does not go (vs. 30). And so, though he sounds like he is obeying His fathers will in fact he is doing no such thing. Indeed, there is no regretting not doing so like with the first son. And so, this son represents the religious rulers and authorities and those who bore rule over the people who did not believe John and repent at his preaching and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah and King, for though they sound like they obey the Will of God, their hearts are far from Him.
Vs. 31-32 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.
Therefore, in telling the parable of the two
sons to them, the Lord Jesus now asks the religious authorities and rulers of
the people, Which of the two did the will of his
father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Therefore, with their
response the Lord Jesus now says 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.” And so, in striking contrast to the
religious rulers with all of their religious trappings that they live by, it is
those who are often outside of the mainstream of faith that actually have
faith, here harlots and tax collectors’ people which were held in the lowest
esteem by them. And yet the Lord Jesus Christ says that they enter the Kingdom
of God before them, because they repented at the preaching of John the Baptist,
while these when they observed it did not relent and come to him, instead they
kept their distance, because in their religious and self-righteous reasoning if
the worst of sinners were coming to John then something must be wrong. However,
as the Lord Jesus Christ makes it abundantly clear they enter the Kingdom of
God before them, because they repented at the preaching of John. Thus, in the
Kingdom of heaven it is as the Lord Jesus Christ says, “the
last will be first and the first last.” The only question then is will
you be first or last? Will you repent and believe and come to the Lord Jesus
Christ and have remission of all your sins and new and everlasting life by His
Death on Cross and Resurrection from dead, or will you stand aloof watching
sinners and believing people from every place on earth come to Him and be freely
healed, cleansed, and transformed by Him. Set right and set securely with God in
the Kingdom of God forever. Do not then be like the religious authorities of
Jesus Day (and today) who thought (and think) themselves above such things,
instead call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God
today! (Rom.10:9-10, 13).
Scripture Quotations: The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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