SHARING BREAD
28 “What do you think? There was
a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today
in the vineyard.’”
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.”
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.”
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.”
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.”
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Matt
21:28-32 (NIV)
In our verses for today through parabolic jargon our Lord
sets forth to demonstrate the difference in men’s characters. Some prove to be better than they promise,
others promise better than they prove to be.
May we be as the former and not the latter! We discover the same command delivered to
both sons: “‘Son, go and work
today in the vineyard.’” God
sets His children to work even as heirs. Work was not meant to be a curse rather a
blessing. It is a gift. I am reminded of our first
father’s marching orders in Genesis prior to the Fall. God had intended for man to enjoy his labor. Work became drudgery only after sin entered:
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of
Eden to work it and take care of it. Gen 2:15 (NIV)
God had no intention for His children to remain shiftless
and idle – indeed, idle hands are the devil’s workshop! The Gospel call to work in God’s vineyard
requires modern day believers to be obedient to His “good, pleasing and perfect
will” as well – whatever profession we may be.
This is not for preachers only. We
are to bring the love and Truth of Christ to each of our spheres. Daylight was not given for us to aimlessly
piddle away. It is Jesus’ command for us
to “go and make disciples” and carries with it His authority, affection and
ability. The Gospel call is the same for
every believer. Remember Jesus tells us
the harvest is plentiful and the worker’s few:
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to
send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matt 9:37-38 (NIV)
Jesus also tells us we must work while it is still day –
doing the will of the Father. This was
His chosen path by the way. There is an
allotted time for each of us to do what God has prepared in advance for us to
do:
4 “As long as it is day, we must do the work
of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of
the world.” John 9:4-5 (NIV)
Paul also tells us in Ephesians:
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 (NIV)
“Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude;
everything passed on with grace.” G.K.
Chesterton
In our parable today, the two son’s responses were very
different. The first son responded with
a flat denial to his father’s wishes.
Excuses are bad enough but downright “no’s” are even worse. Often people refuse the call of the Gospel –
the still small voice of the Father – initially choosing rather to give way to
worldly pursuits or pleasures – temporal and fleeting as they may be. Here the first son denies yet on second
thought later reconsiders, repents and produces fruit in keeping with
repentance. To be sure, it is better
late than never. God graciously and
patiently waits on us despite our former follies. Indeed, He rises to show us compassion:
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to
show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait
for him! Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
The second son responds with respect and professed obedience
yet was duplicitous and remained unchanged.
To be sure, saying and doing are two separate matters. Many mouth words but demonstrate their heart
goes in a different direction. We must
back up our words with what we do – practice what we preach. God does not look lightly on an unfulfilled
vow – better to remain silent. Solomon
tells us in Ecclesiastes:
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling
it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not
fulfill it. Eccl 5:4-5 (NIV)
Lastly, Christ’s application of this parable being that the
Baptist – our Lord’s forerunner sent from heaven - came showing the way of
righteousness. The tax collectors and
prostitutes had believed Him while the religious elite snubbed their
noses. By this, Jesus reproves the chief
priests and elders for their contempt of John’s baptism – shaming them for it
and setting before them faith, repentance and obedience.
What I glean from this:
· Work was
given initially by God as a blessing – sin turned it into labor. It is God’s desire for me not to be idle
rather to go forth working in the strength of His perfect power.
· As long as
it is day I am to do the work of Him who sends me forth.
· God longs
to be gracious to me – He rises to show me compassion.
