MATTHEW 21.28-32 THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Many Christians are familiar with this verse in James 1.22. ‘Don’t just listen. Do it.’ It summarizes well the parable that we are going to study today. In the Parable of the Two Sons, the Lord Jesus teaches that the person who refuses to do what is asked of him but who subsequently changes his mind and does the task is better than the one who promises to take care of his obligations but then fails to keep his word. Let’s read this parable. Matthew 21.28-32.

Matthew 21.28. “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.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he repented and went. 30 And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 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 harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.