The parables of Jesus: Pt. 7 2 Sons represent 2 responses to the Gospel
Good morning...
This morning we will see a couple of examples of different groups of people that represent how we were before we became believers in Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be save, and thy house."
John 12:44 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me."
The Parable of the Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
The Jewish religious leaders were opposing the works and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Lord turned to them with this simple parable. It builds on the images from the Parable of the vineyard owner and the workers.
Jesus asked the Jews what they thought about the 2 sons of a certain man. This father asked both his sons to go work in his vineyard. The first one said he would not go but then regretted his reply and actually went His way to work. The second son readily consented to go work in his fathers vineyard but he never went.
Jesus asked the Jewish leaders which son did the will of his father. They unanimously replied that the first son who initially refused to go but then repented and went to work was the son who did his fathers will.
The religious leaders reject Christ but the outcasts accepted Him.
Matthew 21:31-32 Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
The "certain man" is our Father in heaven. The two sons represent two responses to the gospel of Christ: belief or unbelief. Jesus was very direct to those Jewish religionists. They heard the preaching of John the baptist and refused to respond by faith. They were like the second son who gave lip service to obeying his father's command but did not do what he was asked to do.
However, the publicans (tax collectors) and harlots, both groups who were despised by the religious leaders, responded by faith to John's preaching. The publicans and harlots were unrepentant sinners until they heard the word preached by John.
Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. They responded in faith which is like the first son who said "No" at first and then did as he was told by his father.
Luke 7:29-30 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
The response of both groups of people were recorded by Luke in his gospel. Like the first son, the previously unrepentant sinners justified God when they heard God and were baptized. Like the second son, the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God's word spoken by John the baptist. "For a season" enjoyed the light of truth from John's lips (John 5:35).
The Pharisees and lawyers must have been stunned by the word's of Christ. The religious people were being excluded from the kingdom of God because of their unbelief, but the much despised tax collectors and prostitutes were entering in because they exercised faith.
Thoughts to Ponder...
This parable really brings the two possible responses to the preaching of the gospel into sharp focus for us. On one hand we have a son who initially refused to do what his father asked him to do. This son later repented and obeyed his father and this is a response of faith or belief.
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The other son agreed to obey his father but he did not obey. His response was unbelief. The text below contains a solemn warning of final judgment against those who reject the call to repentant faith from the gospel of Jesus Christ. He that overcomes represents those who respond by believing what God has said about His Son. They will enter into heaven as a redeemed child of God. The unbelievers will spend eternity in a lake burning with fire and brimstone.
I hope and pray that all who read this blog will respond by faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the singular hope of all mankind and He will save you if you call upon Him for salvation in repentant faith.
Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Bob
This morning we will see a couple of examples of different groups of people that represent how we were before we became believers in Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be save, and thy house."
John 12:44 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me."
Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
The Jewish religious leaders were opposing the works and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Lord turned to them with this simple parable. It builds on the images from the Parable of the vineyard owner and the workers.
Jesus asked the Jews what they thought about the 2 sons of a certain man. This father asked both his sons to go work in his vineyard. The first one said he would not go but then regretted his reply and actually went His way to work. The second son readily consented to go work in his fathers vineyard but he never went.
Jesus asked the Jewish leaders which son did the will of his father. They unanimously replied that the first son who initially refused to go but then repented and went to work was the son who did his fathers will.
The religious leaders reject Christ but the outcasts accepted Him.
Matthew 21:31-32 Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
The "certain man" is our Father in heaven. The two sons represent two responses to the gospel of Christ: belief or unbelief. Jesus was very direct to those Jewish religionists. They heard the preaching of John the baptist and refused to respond by faith. They were like the second son who gave lip service to obeying his father's command but did not do what he was asked to do.
However, the publicans (tax collectors) and harlots, both groups who were despised by the religious leaders, responded by faith to John's preaching. The publicans and harlots were unrepentant sinners until they heard the word preached by John.
Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. They responded in faith which is like the first son who said "No" at first and then did as he was told by his father.
Luke 7:29-30 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
The response of both groups of people were recorded by Luke in his gospel. Like the first son, the previously unrepentant sinners justified God when they heard God and were baptized. Like the second son, the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God's word spoken by John the baptist. "For a season" enjoyed the light of truth from John's lips (John 5:35).
The Pharisees and lawyers must have been stunned by the word's of Christ. The religious people were being excluded from the kingdom of God because of their unbelief, but the much despised tax collectors and prostitutes were entering in because they exercised faith.
Thoughts to Ponder...
This parable really brings the two possible responses to the preaching of the gospel into sharp focus for us. On one hand we have a son who initially refused to do what his father asked him to do. This son later repented and obeyed his father and this is a response of faith or belief.
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The other son agreed to obey his father but he did not obey. His response was unbelief. The text below contains a solemn warning of final judgment against those who reject the call to repentant faith from the gospel of Jesus Christ. He that overcomes represents those who respond by believing what God has said about His Son. They will enter into heaven as a redeemed child of God. The unbelievers will spend eternity in a lake burning with fire and brimstone.
I hope and pray that all who read this blog will respond by faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the singular hope of all mankind and He will save you if you call upon Him for salvation in repentant faith.
Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Bob
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