What was Jesus parable about the two sons?
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| Jesus meets John the Baptist (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Jesus in this passage uses His discussion of John the Baptist’s authority with the religious leaders in Jerusalem as a springboard to explain why judgment is coming upon those covenant-breaking Israelites who believe themselves falsely to be God’s true people. The parable of the two sons is the first of three consecutive parables in which our Lord condemns faithless Israelites.
One commentator has noted some of the similarities between the parable of the two sons (Matt. 21:28–32) and the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32), including the fact that both stories end with the father’s acceptance of the wayward son. We would also note that the fact that the rebellious child is ultimately restored in both parables is certainly offensive to the hearers; most representatives of the Sanhedrin would never extend grace to the “wicked.”
The point of today’s parable is straightforward, namely, that it is better to
obey without promising than it is to promise and not obey (Matt. 21:28–32). As Scripture tells us elsewhere, words mean nothing if there are no deeds to back them up. It is easy to profess the truth, but our Father in heaven also
demands that we do the truth as well (James 2:14–26). Those who initially
refuse to submit to God but then turn to Him are His children, not those who
honor Him with their lips and yet have hearts that never serve Him (Isa.
29:13–14).
Of course, the priests and elders believe they are represented by the obedient
son (Matt. 21:31). Jesus, however, has a different estimation. The tax
collectors and prostitutes, those whom the leaders see as farthest from the
kingdom, are those who in hearing the preaching of John and Jesus have
recognized their poverty of Spirit and repented. John Calvin comments that
although they are great sinners, “they are greatly preferable to the scribes
and Pharisees in this respect, that they do not continue to the end in their
vices, but, on the contrary, submit gently and obediently to the yoke which
they had fiercely rejected.” It is the son who does not follow through on his
pledge that represents the Jerusalem authorities; they have not seen their
desperate need of forgiveness and consequently, have not turned from their sin (v. 32; see 3:7–10).
Being able to discern the faithful son is actually an act of self-indictment
on the part of the leaders. If they can rightly choose as faithful the son who
left his disobedience, surely they must also be able to discern in themselves
their own lack of righteousness (Ps. 53:2–3) and need of the Savior. Yet they
never acknowledge their guilt. Let us never be so confident in our own
goodness that we fail to recognize our need of repentance and forgiveness.
