Jesus just rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowd filled the air with Hosannas and praises to the King. Jesus’ first act upon entering Jerusalem is to cleanse the temple. (Matthew 21:12-17) He then curses the fig tree. (Matthew 21:18-22) The fig tree is symbolic of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:7). The fact that the fig tree had leaves, but no fruit is symbolic of Israel’s religious activity—i.e., all the trappings of spirituality, but no substance. Israel may have had the leaves of activity, but not the fruit of repentance and obedience to God, which is why Jesus tells them the prostitutes and tax collectors will enter the kingdom ahead of them. (v. 31) In Matthew 21:23-27, the religious authorities—the chief priests and elders—question Jesus’ authority. Who is this Jesus who comes into Jerusalem receiving the praises of the masses and drives the moneychangers out of the temple? The stage is set for the showdown. It is in this context that Jesus tells three parables—the Two Sons, the Tenants, and the Wedding Feast. Each of these parables is told to the Jewish religious leaders, each illustrates their rejection of Jesus, and each pronounces judgment on Israel for their rejection of their Messiah. In the Parable of the Two Sons, the leaders of Israel are the second son who claimed obedience but did not do the will of the father.

Verses 28-29 A man with two sons told them to go work in the vineyard. God is speaking to each of us to work in his vineyard daily. God has filled scripture with rules, commissions, and promises for following through. The call to work in our Father’s vineyard requires obedience.

We have to check our hearts often. Are we working in our own fields for our own pleasure that we are unavailable to work in God’s vineyard?

We must strive to reject being servants of our own agenda. We should desire to surrender our lives to God so that His Spirit would empower us to submit to His plans and purposes.

Serving Jesus is not to be saved. His sacrifice and grace save us. If we say we believe, then we are already His children and, therefore, should be imitators of our Father.

As parents, it’s important that we teach our children not to be idle. Idleness is a subtle disease that consumes the heart slowly if allowed.

Throughout the day, God asks us with impulses to withdraw from the crowds or busyness to seek him in prayer. This is His work as well.

Better Late Than Never

This first son refused at first, but later repented and obeyed his Father. It’s better to be late than never obey at all. Compliance with God’s plans is evidence that we have repented.

The fruit of the son’s repentance is obedience.

When we repent and leave our past, God’s work produces a harvest in our lives.

The Lord does not resent our refusals. He patiently waits to be gracious. (Isaiah 30:18) His kindness leaves room for our repentance.

Verse 30 The second son initially expressed obedience, but actually disobeyed and refused to work in the vineyard. He promises his Father that we would go, but he stays in his own business. His words said one thing, but his actions told another story.

Saying And Doing Are Two Different Things

Verse 31 The son who ultimately did the will of his Father was the first son because he eventually obeyed.

The Word of God and his call to us are the same for everyone. We all have the same commands and encouragement in God’s Word. Some believe following Jesus leads to a better life and others believe following the world or their own ideas will lead to a more satisfying journey.

Do we promise God one thing and do another? Do we really believe Jesus is the only lasting satisfaction in our lives? The way we live our days will tell the truth of what is in our hearts.

Jesus likens the first son to tax collectors and prostitutes—the outcasts of Jewish society—because they believed John the Baptist and accepted “the way of righteousness” (v. 32), despite their initial disobedience to the Law.

The Pharisees expressed they were about God’s business, but their hearts led them in another way. They couldn’t part with their own ideas, opinions, agendas, or popularity.

Our own purposes will lead us to a life of no purpose.

Remember the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22? Just because we’re going through the religious motions and it appears to others that we’re thriving with buds of ministry or blossoms of good works, doesn’t mean we’re living the abundant life Jesus came to give. If our repentance and obedience produce no fruit, a cursed future awaits us.

Both sons had their faults. One was rude by initially refusing his father’s request. The other lied, saying he would work, and then he did not.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words.

We should always outdo our words when given the chance. To work with humility and excellence in all things. Our work is an offering to the Lord. We should shine with distinction for the glory of God. As a disciple of Jesus, we resemble his excellence in all things.

This scripture is hope to all who have strayed from the Father, or maybe said one thing and done another, and possibly missed the mark of obedience in their lives. There is time to repent today and start obeying. If we’re reading this, we still have time for fruit to grow in our lives.

The main point of this parable is to show how those who never talked about the Messiah and his kingdom believed John the Baptist. They lived a life of disobedience, but when they heard the gospel, they repented and believed. Obedience marked their lives from this point on.

And the religious leaders who were expecting the Messiah dismissed John’s claims about Jesus.

Verse 32 Jesus says John came in the way of righteousness because he taught people to repent and to work the works of righteousness. John was a great example of strictness, seriousness, and contempt for the world. He denied himself and did well for everyone else.

If John came in the way of righteousness, how could they be so ignorant to think that his baptism was not from heaven? They doubted anyway. John did so much good among the worst of people. God helped John’s ministry succeed. The arm of the Lord was with John to convert that many souls.

Whatever profit we bring to someone’s life is our testimony. The Lord helps us succeed in our work, our home, our marriage, our parenting, our neighboring, and our friendships.

It’s harder to convince a hypocrite than it is a harlot. Resting in our own goodness and godliness is one of Satan’s strongholds.

Watching others repent and believe did not convince these prideful religious leaders to change their minds and believe John.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for your grace, which covers my shortcomings when I rest everything in you. Have mercy on me, Jesus. My life has moments marked with unbelief, which showed in my anxiety, worry, and fear. There’s still a lot of self-absorption and serving my own agendas. I place my desires above your commands. Holy Spirit, empower me to follow through with your will for my life, to submit to your plans and purposes. I am available for your agenda today. I pray that my actions and words line up with a heart of a holy desire for you, Jesus. Help me teach my children to be imitators of you, Jesus, and not idle in life. May their lives show the fruit of repentance by their obedience to your Word. I let go of my ideas, opinions, agendas, expectations, or any popularity in this world. Let there be a harvest of good work that comes from serving you, Jesus. May this glorify who you are all the more. I want to outdo my words with humble works of excellence. You are my only lasting satisfaction. There’s nothing I can rest my eternity in but you, Jesus. May my words and actions prove I believe what you said, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.