Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the parable of the two sons, which the Lord Jesus used to address the chief priests and the elders of the people in these words: “A man had two sons; and addressing the first, he said: My child, go and work today in my vineyard. He replied: I don’t want to. Then he repented, and he went. Addressing the other, he said the same thing. And this son answered, I am willing, lord. And he did not go. ” We read this in Mat 21: 28-29. It should be said that it was the Eternal God who sent John the Baptist as the precursor of the Messiah and who had just entered Jerusalem triumphantly.
It was about confessing that his ministry came from God(which they knew very well) that not only they had to receive him, John, but especially the Christ that he had announced to them, and then teach themselves to the people to receive salvation by repenting.
But, these pretentious men would rather come off as ignorant than speak out a truth that condemned them before God, or something wrong that would have exposed them to the wrath of the crowd. So the Lord answered them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Because they had decided not to believe in him.
And if the Lord does not answer their question, He shows them their miserable condition by means of a parable, that of the two sons. Which of the two did the father’s will? They say to him: The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go ahead of you into God’s kingdom. 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 you, having seen it, did not have any remorse afterwards to believe it.
Let’s understand the meaning of this parable through to the explanation given by the Lord Jesus. First, the first child represents in Israel the class of those who grossly sinned, that is, the tax collectors and the wicked life men who did not care about the law.
But at the voice of John the Baptist who called them to repentance, they felt remorse, believed John and became those children of wisdom that Jesus spoke of(Mat 19.11). These good Jews, heads of the people, outwardly led an honorable conduct and could, like the Pharisee (Luke 18), give thanks that they were not like the rest of men, nor like the tax collector who beat his chest, seeing the real way to obey God, that is, to believe; but they would not imitate repentant sinners, so that while claiming to work in the vineyard of God, they did not; that’s why they were put aside and found themselves on the eve of judgment.
Then, the second child represents those who had to believe what John the Baptist told them from God; and since those who believed John, believed the Lord. Likewise today, if we believe the Word which brings to the conscience the light of the Eternal God as to sin, we also believe in the Lord Jesus who came to take charge on the cross, of all the sins that overwhelmed the conscience and we are saved. For grace brings salvation and asks for nothing, except to simply accept it. For to recognize John’s mission as sent from God was to recognize Christ. Denying it was to lose their influence beside the people. That’s why the Lord Jesus then declined their competence as leaders and guardians of the faith of the people, for they had judged themselves.
Finally, the people represented by the first son, while claiming to do the will of God, did not do it; while those represented by the second son were obviously wicked, had repented and had done this will. And seeing that, had remained hardened. For the natural conscience had not been reached in them, neither by the testimony of John, nor by the sight of the repentance of others. But, although God had employed all appropriate means to bring them back fruit worthy of his care, he had found among them nothing but perversity and rebellion.
This Is why the prophets were rejected, and his Son also subsequently. For they wanted to have the inheritance of the Son for themselves (Mat 21:38), and they could only recognize that the consequence of such a crime would necessarily be their destruction, and that the vineyard would be given to others.
That’s also why the Lord Jesus applies the parable to them, quoting Ps 118: 22-23, announcing that the stone rejected by those who built has become the main one of the corner; further, that whoever would fall on that stone would be crushed, and that is what the nation was doing at that time. But whoever this stone would fall on (as will be the fate of the rebellious nation in the last days) would be crushed. For the chief priests and the Pharisees understood that he was speaking about them, but they dared not lay their hands on him, because the crowds considered him as a prophet. This’s the story of Israel seen in its responsibility until the last days. The LORD God sought fruit in his vineyard, and will give it to those who will bring forth fruit.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together to facilitate your understanding.
- Christ silences his adversaries:
-Wisdom of Christ: Isa 11.2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD; Mat 13.54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked; Luke 2.40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him ; 1 Cor 1.24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God; Col 2.3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
-victory through the presence of Christ: Isa 53.12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors; Mt 12.20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory; Jn 16.33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” ; 1 Cor 15.24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power; Rev 3.21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne; Rev 6.2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest; Rev 17.14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
- the two sons’ parable
-Teaching of the vineyard: Isa 5. 1, 7 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 7 The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress; Jer 12.10 Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland; Mat 20.1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard; Mat 21.28, 33 “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.’33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.
-the rejected are accepted by Christ: + the lepers: Mt 8.3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy; + tax collectors and prostitutes: Mt 21. “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; Luke 7.27 This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you’; Luke 7.47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little”; Jn 8.11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin”; + Despised sinners: Luke 15.2 “But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them”; + the evildoer at the cross: Luke 23.43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”; + the blind man cast out from the synagogue; Jn 9.35 “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
-Faith in Christ ensures salvation: Jn 3:15 “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him”; Jn 5.24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life; Jn 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; Jn 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness; Jn 20.31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name; Rom 10.9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
-the believers: Jn 2.22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken; Jn 4.53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed; Rom 4.18; 2 Tim 1.12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
From all of the above, we note that the first son in this parable represents all those who heard the word of God through John the Baptist’s mouth who called them to repentance, they felt remorse, believed John and became those children of wisdom the Lord Jesus spoke about. Those represented by the second son are those on whom the rejected stone will fall, as will be the fate of the rebellious nations in the last days and which will be crushed. Our prayers are with you all as you choose to believe in our Savior Jesus Christ and follow Him with all your hearts.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the parable of the wedding feast to better understand the kingdom of heaven: “for there are many called, but few chosen.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.