First, just a quick note that the “busyness” of yesterday’s passage continues in today’s. Jesus is not stopping now - all this action is in Jerusalem, centered in the Temple. Who he is, what he says, and what he does is on full display for all to see.
But let’s pause for once on this parable of the two sons. This is not the well-known parable of two sons, most usually referred to as the “Prodigal Son” in Luke’s gospel. This is a much lesser recognized parable, shorter and simple. But its point is powerful and one for us today.
What a person says is nothing compared to what that person does. Matthew has been showing us this from the beginning of his gospel. Remember the conclusion to the sermon on the mount, three chapters at the heart of Matthew (5-7): Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…
It’s not just the hearing of the word. Or the promise to keep the word. It’s the enfleshment of the word.
Not only that, but note the grace toward the first son. Many will say “No,” at first. But it doesn’t matter if they later then change their mind and do what was asked anyway.
Matthew 21:23-32
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching. They asked, “What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?”
Jesus replied, “I have a question for you. If you tell me the answer, I’ll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things. Where did John get his authority to baptize? Did he get it from heaven or from humans?”
They argued among themselves, “If we say ‘from heaven,’ he’ll say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But we can’t say ‘from humans’ because we’re afraid of the crowd, since everyone thinks John was a prophet.” Then they replied, “We don’t know.”
Jesus also said to them, “Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons. Now he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’
“‘No, I don’t want to,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
“The father said the same thing to the other son, who replied, ‘Yes, sir.’ But he didn’t go.
“Which one of these two did his father’s will?”
They said, “The first one.”
Jesus said to them, “I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering God’s kingdom ahead of you. For John came to you on the righteous road, and you didn’t believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even after you saw this, you didn’t change your hearts and lives and you didn’t believe him.
Psalm 15
Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain?
The person who lives free of blame, does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely; who does no damage with their talk, does no harm to a friend, doesn’t insult a neighbor; someone who despises those who act wickedly, but who honors those who honor the Lord; someone who keeps their promise even when it hurts; someone who doesn’t lend money with interest, who won’t accept a bribe against any innocent person. Whoever does these things will never stumble.
Prayer
God,
Help me to live the things of your kingdom in action today. I will certainly be sitting quite a bit, but help me to bring your Word to being. Like Jesus, the Word who became flesh.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.