I am the youngest of three children and the only girl. My brothers are four and eight years older. I saw them as trailblazers when it came to obedience and interaction with my parents. I watched them carefully and how they responded to my parent’s authority. Like me, sometimes it was evident they chose wisely and sometimes they did not.
In our passage today, we meet two brothers and how they handle the request of their father to go work in the vineyard. Both brothers struggle with obedience. The older brother is all mouth and no action; he never does what he agrees to do. In Jesus’ parable, this brother represented the nation of Israel and how they refused to follow the will of God unless it aligned with their own agenda. The younger brother is rebellious upfront, but then repents and does as his father requests. This brother represents the repentant heart that turns to do the will of God. In his parable, Jesus shares the point that the younger brother will gain entrance to the Kingdom of God before the older brother.
As followers of Jesus, we need to be quick to repent, quick to ask for forgiveness, and quick to obey the will of God. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit and the way in is humble obedience to the authority of God.
Matthew 21:28-32 NLT Parable of the Two Sons
28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
Prayer: Lord, some days it is very easy to become preoccupied with self; to dwell in our minds. Life isn’t fair and our emotions can quickly gain the upper hand. Turning inward and living for our own agenda may be our inclination, but turning upward is where we gain wisdom. We need to remember our place is to humbly live for your will not ours. Thank you for loving us on this journey of life. You are faithful and true and we need you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.