Parable of the Two Sons
Notes
Transcript
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I would invite you to be turning with me in your Bibles to Matthew 21. Tonight we are going to take a closer look at another Parable of Jesus.
A few weeks ago Troy spent several weeks on Monday night walking us through how to study the Bible and or a passage of scripture. In order to fully understand the message that a passage of scripture is teaching us there are several questions that we must ask.
These questions help us to determine who the message was intended for, what it meant for them and then these questions help us to apply the message to our lives today.
As I studied for this particular parable, the parable of the two sons I found myself having to ask myself many of these questions to better understand the parable. Because when taken at face value many important questions go unanswered. So tonight I thought we would approach this Parable a little differently by answering several key questions. For the sake of time we will not be able to go through every step that Troy talked about when it comes to studying a passage deeply but I do want to hit some of the big steps.
Why Jesus Spoke in Parables
Since we already know that the type of writing that we are about to study is a parable told by Jesus it is important that we always remember why Jesus spoke in parables.
You may find yourself asking the question; why did Jesus uses parable to speak. Its a great question because even the apostles wondered the same thing in Matthew 13:10
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
He then answers them by saying…Matthew 13:11-14. Matthew 13:15-17.
For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
Jesus tells them that the reason that he spoke in parables was to reveal things that have been hidden or things that have been a mystery to others. Through the parables of Jesus he is revealing to them the hidden things of the kingdom.
The idea that yes, the kingdom was going to take over the world and have complete dominion over it but not by military force but rather through the life and teachings of its King.
As we are going to see the audience of Jesus parable in Matthew 21 they two were stubborn because they were not willing to understand the things that they had heard and saw before this parable.
One other quick thing to understand about parables is that Jesus also says he spoke in parables to fulfill prophecy. Matthew 13:34-35.
All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
With this understanding of the purpose of parables lets read the Parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-30. Matthew 21:31-32.
Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.
After reading this parable what preliminary questions do you have about this parable?
For me there are several.
Why did did Jesus ask the question; What do you think?
Who did he ask the question to?
Who are the main characters and who do they represent?
Man/Father
Son # 1
Son #2
Vineyard
What does the parable mean?
How does it apply to me today?
When we read this parable the first two question, who is Jesus talking to and why did he ask this question are not given to us in the parable itself. To find the answer we must look at context to see what is going on that brought about the question from the audience.
We find our answer to this question in the verses leading up to this parable. Notice with verse 23-27. Matthew 21:23-25. Matthew 21:26-27.
But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
Right away we see that Jesus is speaking this parable to the chief priest and the elders. These men asked Jesus a question. By what authority do you have to do these things.
By answering the first two questions we see that we now have another question to answer. What are the things that Jesus did that these men did not like.
If we back up to verse 1 of chapter 21 we see that this chapter is the beginning of Jesus final week. It is Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
If you notice there are several events that brought on this question.
First, the triumphal entry and fulfillment of Prophecy by Jesus riding on a donkey in Zechariah 9:9.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
These men would have known this prophecy and I’m sure that this would have not set well with them since they did not believe that Jesus was the coming king.
2. Next we see that Jesus went straight to the temple and drove out those who did not belong. Jesus restored the temple to a house of prayer.
3. Next we see that Jesus performed more miracles and people began crying out Hosanna to the Son of David.
This was the last straw for the chief priest and the elders. It says they were indignant, they are angry, they were outraged.
This is why they asked Jesus by what authority are you doing these things.
Jesus responds to them by asking them a question. He says if you can tell me where the baptism of John came from then I will tell you where my authority comes from
Jesus knew that if they answered this question correctly than they would answer their own question.
The reason they did not respond correctly is because if they said that John was from Heaven than they must accept him as a prophet.
Accepting John as a prophet would have forced them too accept Jesus as the Messiah, and to know where his authority came from because John testified of Jesus identity in John 1:29-31. John 1:32-34.
And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Because these men would not answer the question Jesus did not answer their question.
The Lord’s response exposed their hypocrisy and at the same time made it very apparent to the people that his authority came from the same place that John’s came from.
With all this background now we can understand more clearly what Jesus is trying to teach his audience which we have identified as the chief priest and the elders. Let’s now see if we can identify the other characters in the parable.
Since this parable is about two sons who are subject to the authority of their father the man or Father in this parable is God who sent John into the world to show Israel how to enter the Kingdom. Just like the father asked both sons to work in his vineyard, John’s message was for both Israel's leaders and everyone else, including people like the tax collectors and prostitutes.
The first son the one who told his father no but then changed his mind represents the tax collectors and prostitutes, or all those who deliberately disobeyed God but after hearing the prophesies of John they obeyed God. (Verse 32)
The second son represents all the Jews who claimed to obey God and claimed their allegiance to the law but in reality they did not because they did not accept the authority of Jesus and John the Baptist.
After the Chief priest and elders understood that they were represented by the second son when Jesus said Matthew 21:31.
Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
they were outraged by the fact that people like a prostitute and tax collector could enter the Kingdom of Heaven rather than them.
Jesus makes it clear that those who accepted the authority of John the Baptist and Jesus would enter the kingdom of God because they were willing to humble themselves and accept the authority of the Gospel and King Jesus.
After taking a closer look at the parable and its context we see that Jesus was clearly pointing out to the religious leaders that if they wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven they must accept Jesus as Messiah and accept his authority because in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven one must be willing to be ruled by Christ authority as King of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before we look at how this parable can apply to us today let me first just mention that Jesus actually spoke three parables back to back in order to address the question that the Chief priest and elders had. I want to encourage you this week to read and study the next two parables with this understanding as to why Jesus taught these three parables.
So now that we hopefully understand who the parable was for and why Jesus taught the parable let’s finish tonight by asking how does this parable apply to us as a Christians 2000 plus years removed from this parable.
We must be willing to admit when we are wrong and repent.
Notice verse 32. Matthew 21:32.
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Jesus says even when you saw the tax collectors and prostitutes accepting John’s teaching you still did not change your mind.
Today many people are set in their ways. Set in their ways about what they believe about scripture. As Christians we must never have the attitude that the Pharisees had. It didn’t matter how many signs or miracles they saw they were never going to change their mind about Jesus.
Today as we study scripture and come to understand it more fully we must always approach his word with a willingness to allow him to change us.
And when we see that a change is needed in our live we must be like the first son and desire to change our mind and submit to the authority and will of God.
2. As Christians we must always remember that performance is more important than promise.
The second son promised to do what he was asked but then failed to perform on that promise.
To many people today promise to obey God by believing in him but they fail to do what Jesus ask of them.
Believing in Jesus or claiming that you will do his will will not make you a member of his kingdom.
We must be willing to be born again by being baptised in water for the remission of our sins and then we must decide to submit to the authority of God. We must be willing to serve Christ as our King.
Let me ask you tonight what have you done for Christ today. Have you fully submitted your life to him by working in his vineyard.