What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
The Jewish outcasts and the Gentiles represent the first son who initially was disobedient but ‘repented’ and was obedient. The religious leaders, the chief priests and elders represent the second son who initially appeared to be obedient because of their devotion to the Torah but was ultimately disobedient. They resisted John’s call to conversion. The house of Israel was the vineyard.
The parable shows a stark contrast between the religious leaders, who with their hardness of heart refuse to accept Jesus as the Son of God thereby rejecting God’s will, and the religious outcasts who, upon hearing the Word, had a conversion of heart and embraced the kingdom thereby accepting God will. Thus, the priests and elders condemn themselves. The Gospel of Matthew considers obedience and faith to be the final test for entry into the Kingdom of God.
Tax collectors and sinners were the outcasts, the ignorant and unclean sinners. It was shocking for Jesus to say that they would enter the Kingdom of heaven ahead of others. The rebellious sinners knew they needed to repent. The self-righteous religious leaders did not believe they needed to repent. True obedient faith flows from a conversion of heart.
Almighty and forgiving God, disobedience fractured our relationship with you, but the obedience of your Son reconciled us to you. Though your grace let us not be led astray by the evil one and strengthen our resolve so that our yes means yes. Look with mercy upon your servants and heal us as we call on your name with repentant hearts. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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