The Yes and No Sons
Sermon
Preaching the Parables
The parables are like mirrors. You can see yourself in them. You look at the characters and listen to their responses and you can see and hear yourself. This was the case when Nathan told a parable to David about a rich man's taking a poor man's pet sheep for a banquet. Nathan did not have to say, "You are the man," for David seeing himself as the guilty one confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord."
The same experience was repeated when Jesus told the parable of the two sons to the religious leaders consisting of elders, priests, Pharisees, and scribes. They thought they had him in a corner when they asked him where he got his authority to violently cleanse the temple. He answered by asking them a question about the baptism of John. Since they refused to answer, Jesus said he would not answer them. That ended the discussion but Jesus opened it again by asking what they thought about a father and his two sons. The one refused to go to work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went. The other agreed to go to work but did not. Now he asked the religious people which of the two had obeyed the father. The leaders quickly agreed that it was the former son. In their answer they saw themselves.
Jesus had them see themselves in the son who said yes but failed to go. They were saying yes to God by their legalistic devotion to the Law and by their pietistic routines, but they did nothing. The sinners originally said no but changed their minds and now obeyed God.
At the beginning of the last week of Jesus' life in Jerusalem, a wrestling match begins between Jesus and the religious establishment. It is a serious struggle ending in a death. It is a struggle between yes and no, between the repentant and the non-repentant.
Context
Context of the Church Year
For five consecutive Sundays (Pentecost 17 to 21) we are given the privilege of preaching on a parable. Today's parable is the third in the series. It is also the first of three parables given in-course -
Matthew 21:28-32 - The two sons.
Matthew 21:33-43 - The renters.
Matthew 22:1-14 - The wedding feast.
All three have the same theme: the people's response to Jesus' teaching and the rejection of Jesus by those who would be expected to accept him.
As the church year is coming to a close with Christ the King Sunday coming in the near future, today's parable is situated in the last week of Jesus' life, the week known as Passion or Holy Week. By the time of giving the parable Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Violently he cleansed the temple. At the end of the day, he spent the night in Bethany. In the morning he returned to Jerusalem. Hungry, he went to a fig tree for food but, finding none, cursed it. He went to the temple and was confronted by the religious leaders who asked him by what authority he cleansed the temple. He answered with a question: Where did John the Baptizer get his authority? Because they refused to answer, he refused to answer their question. As a follow-up of the discussion, he told them a story of two sons, the parable for this Sunday. Because the hostility of the religious leaders is intensifying and the cross is only a few days hence, the three parables have a polemic nature.
Contect of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Exodus 33:12-23) The story of Moses continues. Moses pleads with Yahweh to prove his favor by letting him see his glory. Yahweh assures him of his favor but Moses dares not see his face, only his back as he passes by.
The Second Lesson. (Philippians 2:1-13) In this famous passage, Paul appeals for unity in the Philippian congregation by referring to Jesus' humiliation and exaltation. In like manner, the people are to work out their salvation by letting God work in them.
Gospel. (Matthew 21:28-32) The parable of the two sons.
Psalm. (Psalm 99) In relation to Lesson 1, the Psalm says that Moses called upon the Lord and heard God answer his cries.
Prayer of the Day. We pray to a God of love who knows our failings. We pray for grace to overcome them. Since both sons in the parable were "bad," the prayer is appropriate for all sinners.
Hymn of the Day. "O Master Let Me Walk with You"
In this hymn we pray that we may walk and live with Jesus as those who say yes to Jesus by following through service.
Context of Related Scriptures
Isaiah 29:13-14 - Honoring God with our lips while our hearts are far from him.
Micah 6:6-8 - What God requires of his people.
Matthew 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says "Lord."
Matthew 7:24-27 - Obedience constitutes a firm foundation.
Matthew 12:46-50 - Who constitutes Jesus' family.
Matthew 23:1-7 - Preach and practice.
Luke 7:28-30 - Rejection of John the Baptizer.
James 2:14-26 - Faith and works.
Content
Content of the Pericope
1. Matthean: the parable of the two sons is given only by Matthew.
2. Outline:
vv. 28-31a - The parable of the two sons: a son of repentance and a son of broken promise.
v. 31b - The meaning of the parable. Jesus applies the parable to the current situation. The father is God. The son who repents represents "the tax collectors and the harlots"; the son who fails to obey represents the religious leaders: scribes, Pharisees, priests.
v. 32 - Many scholars hold that this verse is a separate saying of Jesus and probably was attached to the parable by Matthew or the early church. It is not related to the parable, for it refers to the Pharisees' not responding to John the Baptizer while the "sinners" believed him. The issue of the parable is not the response or lack of response given to John but to Jesus. As sinners accepted Jesus, they also accepted John. There is a parallel here, but the parable deals with Jesus and not with John the Baptizer.
Precis of the Parable
Once there was a farmer who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, "Son, go to work in the vineyard today." He answered, "No, I will not go." Later he thought it over and his conscience bothered him. He changed his mind and went to the vineyard. Then the father went to the other son and asked him to do the same. He replied, "Yes sir, I will go." But he did not go. Jesus then asked, "Which one of the two sons obeyed his father?" The chief priests and elders answered, "The first one." So, Jesus said to the religious leaders, "I tell you: the tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John the Baptizer showed you the right way to live but you would not believe him. However, the tax collectors and prostitues believed him. Even when you saw what the sinners did, you did not change your minds and believe him."
Thesis: The Kingdom of God is open to all sinners who repent and believe in Christ.
Theme:
Match words with deeds! Key Words in the Parable
1. "Think." (v. 28) Jesus used "think" as a way to involve his listeners in a subject. The discussion was abruptly cut off when Jesus answered his enemies' question with a question. Since they did not answer his question, he refused to answer their question. The result was an impasse. There was an uncomfortable silence. A gap between Jesus and his listeners existed. To get them involved in the subject that was dropped, he asked them to think. He then gave them a life situation of a father and two sons to think about. He asked them for an answer, and their answer incriminated them. As a master communicator, Jesus used an indirect and dialogical method to get people to think and come to the truth. Isaiah used the same method, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord." (Isaiah 1:18)
2. "Sons." (v. 28) The farmer had two sons. Both were "bad boys." The one said no to his father and the other said yes but did not do it. The two sons represented two kinds of sinners. One kind rebels but later obeys. The other readily promises to obey but does not. Repentant sinners enter the Kingdom of God, but the others remain outside the Kingdom until they, too, repent and believe.
3. "Repent." (vv. 29, 32) In the older son we have a good example of repentance. The son changed his mind from no to yes, from disobedience to obedience. Repentance is a radical turn-about. Therefore, it is more than admitting a wrong or feeling sorry for having done wrong. Repentance calls for a change of life, a new direction of life. Since we constantly sin, we need to repent daily.
4. "Not." (vv. 29, 30) In the parable we have two "nots." The one son said he would not go to work. The other did not go to work for his father. The first "not" refers to our rebellion and disobedience. We are natural rebels. We constantly say no to God, to truth, to law, to life. Crime is evidence of this kind of "not." The other "not" deals with hypocrisy. We worship but fail to work. We praise God with our lips but not with our lives. This kind of "not" stands for broken promises, religiosity, and pietism.
5. "Sir." (v. 30) The word, "sir," can also be translated as "Lord" as in Luke 6:46. Jesus once said that not everyone who says Lord (Sir) will enter the Kingdom. The younger son was more polite and respectful of his father because he called him "Sir." This excellent gesture, however, was nullified when he promised to go to work but failed to do so. Some Christians are very polite and proper in saying the right words and in praising the Lord, but in practice they fail to do God's work. They claim to be born-again, shout their alleluias, raise their hands, close their eyes, speak in tongues, but when the service is over, many are the same narrow-minded and selfish creatures they were before the worship service. There is more to discipleship than saying sugar-coated words about Jesus.
6. "Believe." (v. 32) Why, like the younger son, do we promise God to do his will and then fail? Why doesn't our worship result in work? Why don't our creeds turn into character? Referring to the Pharisees, Jesus explains their failure to be in the Kingdom of God - they did not repent and believe. In repentance we turn to God for forgiveness. By faith we accept his forgiveness. What is faith? It is ultimately obedience. We cannot say we believe in Christ and not follow his teachings. Faith leads to good works, because we obey God's commands to love and serve. Entrance into the Kingdom, then, finally depends on faith - "believe."
Contemplation
Insights
1. Repent now. The parable of the two sons emphasizes the importance of repentance in the plan of salvation. As both sons were sinners, all people are in the same condition. The older son repented in terms of changing his mind from no to yes, from rebellion to obedience. Repentance is more than a feeling of remorse; it is an action taken in the right direction. Since people constantly sin by saying no to God and his commandments, repentance is a daily requirement not only to enter but to remain in the Kingdom. Not only should repentance be a continual experience, but it needs to be in the present. It can come too late as in the case of Judas' repentance which could not prevent the cross from happening.
2. Faith in action. The younger son in the parable warns us against religiosity which consists of ceremony without service, faith without works, creeds without character, promises without fulfillment, and intentions without execution. When ritual, ceremony, and liturgy are used, we are only half way in our religion. The other half consists of actions, service, and implementation.
3. Promises, promises! When the father in the parable asked the younger son to go to work, the son cheerfully and courteously made a promise, "I go, sir." But, he did not go; be broke his promise. Promises are either empty or fulfilled. God always fulfills his promises. Can we say the same? Are parents keeping their promises made when their children were baptized? Are adults keeping the promises made when they joined the church? Are youth fulfilling their promises made at Confirmation? Are pastors true to their promises made at Ordination?
4. Christians outlived? Is it possible for a non-Christians to live a better moral life than a Christian? In the parable, the elder son who disobeyed eventually did better than his brother who obeyed only in word. The older son represents the sinners of Jesus' day: tax collectors and prostitutes, the "scum" of the day. These "bad" people - scribes, priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees - did not gain entrance. Much to our shame, some non-church people are kinder, more polite and considerate than the ever-going-to-church people. If non-Christian are obeying God's law of love for neighbor, are they in God's Kingdom?
5. Something worse than rebellion. We are shocked at the frank and brutal reply given by the olders son to his father's request for him to go work in the vineyard - "I will not." It was a flat, declarative, positive no, a defiance of his father's will. The son made no excuses, nor did he ask for an alternate task. Later he changed his mind and obeyed. This parable teaches us that we should not write off those who are defiant and rebellious. Later the doubters, cynics, and rebels may have a change of mind and come back to church. A rebellious teenager may one day show respect for parents. A severe critic of the church may eventually be a church leader. The disobedient one day may repent. Something worse than rebellion is the hypocritical "Yes sir, I'll go" because he did not go. As far as we know, this younger son never repented and went to work. Religious people can be lost in their self-satisfaction and ecclesiastical functions and ceremonies. They are lost in their religious smugness and feel no need to repent.
6. The greater sin. There are at least two kinds of sin: omission and commission. Both are in today's parable. Most of us think of sin only as commission in terms of thought, word, and deed. This was the sin of the older son - the sin of word: "No, I will not." It was frank and open disobedience. The greater sin is the sin of the other lad. He committed the sin of omission. He did not do what he said he would do. He did not help his father in the vineyard. He did not live up to his promise. Isn't it strange that we ask for forgiveness for the sins of commission but seldom confess the sins of what we have not done?
Homily Hints
1. Good, Better, and Best Boys. (2 1:28-32) In the parable there can be seen three grades of people. Every person fits into one of the categories:
A. Good people (religious people) - son said yes but did nothing - v. 30.
B. Better people (worldly people) - son said no but repented - v. 29.
C. Best people (Christian people) - an ideal son who said yes and did it.
2. Yes and No People. (21:28-32) According to the parable, humanity can be divided into yes and no people in their response to God's commands.
A. The No people.
1. Say no and hold to it.
2. Say no and repent.
B. The Yes people.
1. Say yes and do nothing.
2. Say yes and do it.
3. Why Change Your Mind? (21:28-32) The older son in the parable repented, or had a change of mind. What made him change his mind is not told us. If we would put ourselves in the parable and we changed our minds, why, do you think we would do it? Consider some possibilities if you were the older son.
A. Second thoughts.
My father has been good to me, raised me, provided for me. I can't do this to him; he does not deserve it.
B. Bad conscience.
My conscience bothers me. I should not have said no. God wants me to honor, respect, and obey my parents.
C. Respect authority.
He is my father. He has authority over me. A child is expected to obey. I have a duty to obey.
4. Think! (21:28) Jesus was ever trying to get people to think. Here is another time when he asked, "What do you think?" He presents a life situation or gives a question for us to think about in order to come to an answer. Some church people are anti-intellectuals who think Christianity is a matter only of the heart. Yet, in the greatest commandment, we are instructed to love God with all our minds. When some people come to worship, they park their minds outside with their cars. Some questions about thinking -
A. Do we ever stop to think?
B. Do we think ahead?
C. Do we think after we speak or act?
D. What do you think about?
5. How Has Your Mind Changed? (21:28-29) Some years ago a religious periodical carried a series of articles entitled, "How My Mind Changed." Leading theologians told how their ideas had changed over the years. The older son in the parable had a change of mind. As we grow and mature, our minds should change, too.
A. About yourself - do you still think your life is your own to do with as you please?
B. About happiness - do you still think happiness is in material possessions and pleasures?
C. About religion - do you still think religion is okay just for the weak and helpless?
Contact
Points of Contact
1. The parable of the two sons relates to the people in our pews because many may have a false sense of spiritual security similiar to the younger son who represents the smug religious leaders of Jesus' day. The average church is full of people who are content to come to church and say, "Yes, Lord," and go home to do nothing about putting into practice the truth and principles heard in the Word proclaimed that day. Like the religious leaders of Jesus' day, we may be shocked at the truth that "sinners" rather than us will enter the Kingdom of God.
2. If we are not smug in our religious devotions and practices, we may be negative and rebellious sons of the Father similar to the older son. We say no to God, to some of the teachings of the church, to the creeds, to the social statements of the church. But, there is hope for these rebels because, like the older son, they may change their minds and support the work of the church. Like some youth, we may go through a rebellious stage of life. These Christians are good sinners because they repent as the publicans and prostitutes did in Jesus' day. Repentance made them "good" and repentance was the door to the Kingdom of God.
3. Because today's parable enables us to see ourselves, it may make us very uncomfortable. We see ourselves as lifelong religious people who pray, worship, tithe (maybe!), and read the Bible. But, we realize we fail to put our faith into action. It is easy to pray for the poor and homeless but do nothing to alleviate the situation. By our faithfulness in church attendance and support we think we are safe and secure for eternity, but Jesus shocks us by saying repentant sinners go into the Kingdom before we do, if we get to enter at all. Our sins of omission suggest we are disillusioning ourselves that we are in the Kingdom when we may not be.
Points to Ponder
1. If we continue to preach on the Gospel Lessons, starting today we face three parables with the same theme:
Pentecost 19 - the parable of the two sons.
Pentecost 20 - the parable of the renters.
Pentecost 21 - the parable of the wedding feast.
The theme is the same in all three - the rejection of Jesus by people who would be expected to accept him such as the younger son in the parable of these two sons, or the tenants, or those who received an invitation to the banquet. A preacher will be wise to look at all three and discover the approach and emphasis to be made in each parable in order to avoid repetition. This is a challenge to a preacher's creativity.
2. It seems that with each parable we must ask, "Where is the Gospel in this parable?" A Christian preacher is called and ordained to preach the Gospel in every sermon. Today's parable presents us with a problem of whether we enter the Kingdom of God by faith or works. The younger son representing the religious leaders of Jesus' day did not enter the Kingdom because of failure to obey his father. The older son, representing "sinners," gained admission because he repented and went to work for his father. His obedience opened the door to the Kingdom. Previously Jesus said that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" shall enter the Kingdom, but rather those who do the will of God. (Matthew 7:21)
In the perspective of the total teaching of the New Testament, we know that good works, obedience to the Lord's commands, cannot earn merit for inclusion in the Kingdom. It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ. Where then does obedience enter? True faith always results in obedient service. The lack of obedience indicates the absence of faith. So, here is the Gospel: we are permitted in God's Kingdom because our faith in Christ produces deeds of service through obedience to God's command to work in his vineyard.
Illustrative Materials
1. Change of Mind. A boy went into a store to buy a ball. He saw a large ball which he wanted but it cost more money than he had. When no one was looking, he exchanged the price tag of a smaller ball to the larger ball. He left with the larger ball paid for according to the small ball price. When he got home, he began to think about what he had done and realized it was wrong. The next day he went back and told the store clerk what he had done and paid the difference.
2. Say Yes but Do Nothing. In 1495 Mohammedan troops surrounded Constantinople. The big question was whether the Balkans would be under Christian or Mohammedan domination for centuries. While the threat existed and the big question was faced, the church council in Constantinople was meeting to discuss:
What color were the eyes of the Virgin?
What sex are the angels?
What happens when a fly falls into sanctified water - is the fly sanctified or is the water polluted?
Someone confessed to Ann Landers a sin of omission: "Several years ago, after Christmas shopping, I was waiting for my bus. It was bitter cold and the corner was crowded with holiday shoppers. I noticed a thin, elderly, shabbily dressed woman whose worn-out shoes were tied to her feet with rags. There was a shoestore across the street from the bus stop. I was aching to take that woman over there and buy her a pair of nice shoes. But I didn't do it."
3. A Modern Two Sons. Gerald Kennedy tells of an interview he once had with Prime Minister Nehru. Though Nehru was close to Ghandi, he did not claim to be a religious man. However, he used the method of non-violence. Kennedy asked him why he used this method. He explained that he found it to be a practical method that worked. In contrast, Kennedy thought of Christians who believe nonviolence is right but who do not think it will work. With no religion Nehru took Jesus' way while Christians who claim to believe in Jesus do not use his method.
4. Broken Promise. Reuel Howe tells about an experience he had when he was sixteen years old. The captain of a ship scheduled to explore Alaska promised him that he could be one of the crew. Some time later he learned that the ship had left without him in spite of the captain's promise to call him and let him know when the ship would sail.
5. Sunday Religion, Monday Practice. The New York Times asked the founder of McDonalds fast food restaurants what he believed in. He replied, "God, my family, and McDonald's hamburgers." Then he added, "And when I get to the office, I reverse the order."
6. Caring By Deed. One day a boy was walking in the street carrying a basket of eggs. He tripped on the curbstone, dropped the basket, and the eggs were smashed. A crowd gathered at the scene. One said, "What a pity!" Another said, "I'm sorry he is crying. Let's comfort him." Then a man stepped forward, reached into his pocket, and said, "I care a dollar. How much do you care?"
7. Disobedience. A bumper sticker: "Don't tell me what kind of day to have!" Even if it is "Have a good day!"
8. Respectable Sinners. A church in Hickory, North Carolina advertises: "Where some of the most respectable sinners in Hickory worship."
9. Preaching without Practice. In 1988 there was a 60 Minutes interview with the president of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The president was proud to announce that recently the church had adopted a resolution condemning apartheid. Further questioning revealed that implementation of that resolution had thus far failed. There were no blacks in white churches!
The same experience was repeated when Jesus told the parable of the two sons to the religious leaders consisting of elders, priests, Pharisees, and scribes. They thought they had him in a corner when they asked him where he got his authority to violently cleanse the temple. He answered by asking them a question about the baptism of John. Since they refused to answer, Jesus said he would not answer them. That ended the discussion but Jesus opened it again by asking what they thought about a father and his two sons. The one refused to go to work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went. The other agreed to go to work but did not. Now he asked the religious people which of the two had obeyed the father. The leaders quickly agreed that it was the former son. In their answer they saw themselves.
Jesus had them see themselves in the son who said yes but failed to go. They were saying yes to God by their legalistic devotion to the Law and by their pietistic routines, but they did nothing. The sinners originally said no but changed their minds and now obeyed God.
At the beginning of the last week of Jesus' life in Jerusalem, a wrestling match begins between Jesus and the religious establishment. It is a serious struggle ending in a death. It is a struggle between yes and no, between the repentant and the non-repentant.
Context
Context of the Church Year
For five consecutive Sundays (Pentecost 17 to 21) we are given the privilege of preaching on a parable. Today's parable is the third in the series. It is also the first of three parables given in-course -
Matthew 21:28-32 - The two sons.
Matthew 21:33-43 - The renters.
Matthew 22:1-14 - The wedding feast.
All three have the same theme: the people's response to Jesus' teaching and the rejection of Jesus by those who would be expected to accept him.
As the church year is coming to a close with Christ the King Sunday coming in the near future, today's parable is situated in the last week of Jesus' life, the week known as Passion or Holy Week. By the time of giving the parable Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Violently he cleansed the temple. At the end of the day, he spent the night in Bethany. In the morning he returned to Jerusalem. Hungry, he went to a fig tree for food but, finding none, cursed it. He went to the temple and was confronted by the religious leaders who asked him by what authority he cleansed the temple. He answered with a question: Where did John the Baptizer get his authority? Because they refused to answer, he refused to answer their question. As a follow-up of the discussion, he told them a story of two sons, the parable for this Sunday. Because the hostility of the religious leaders is intensifying and the cross is only a few days hence, the three parables have a polemic nature.
Contect of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Exodus 33:12-23) The story of Moses continues. Moses pleads with Yahweh to prove his favor by letting him see his glory. Yahweh assures him of his favor but Moses dares not see his face, only his back as he passes by.
The Second Lesson. (Philippians 2:1-13) In this famous passage, Paul appeals for unity in the Philippian congregation by referring to Jesus' humiliation and exaltation. In like manner, the people are to work out their salvation by letting God work in them.
Gospel. (Matthew 21:28-32) The parable of the two sons.
Psalm. (Psalm 99) In relation to Lesson 1, the Psalm says that Moses called upon the Lord and heard God answer his cries.
Prayer of the Day. We pray to a God of love who knows our failings. We pray for grace to overcome them. Since both sons in the parable were "bad," the prayer is appropriate for all sinners.
Hymn of the Day. "O Master Let Me Walk with You"
In this hymn we pray that we may walk and live with Jesus as those who say yes to Jesus by following through service.
Context of Related Scriptures
Isaiah 29:13-14 - Honoring God with our lips while our hearts are far from him.
Micah 6:6-8 - What God requires of his people.
Matthew 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says "Lord."
Matthew 7:24-27 - Obedience constitutes a firm foundation.
Matthew 12:46-50 - Who constitutes Jesus' family.
Matthew 23:1-7 - Preach and practice.
Luke 7:28-30 - Rejection of John the Baptizer.
James 2:14-26 - Faith and works.
Content
Content of the Pericope
1. Matthean: the parable of the two sons is given only by Matthew.
2. Outline:
vv. 28-31a - The parable of the two sons: a son of repentance and a son of broken promise.
v. 31b - The meaning of the parable. Jesus applies the parable to the current situation. The father is God. The son who repents represents "the tax collectors and the harlots"; the son who fails to obey represents the religious leaders: scribes, Pharisees, priests.
v. 32 - Many scholars hold that this verse is a separate saying of Jesus and probably was attached to the parable by Matthew or the early church. It is not related to the parable, for it refers to the Pharisees' not responding to John the Baptizer while the "sinners" believed him. The issue of the parable is not the response or lack of response given to John but to Jesus. As sinners accepted Jesus, they also accepted John. There is a parallel here, but the parable deals with Jesus and not with John the Baptizer.
Precis of the Parable
Once there was a farmer who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, "Son, go to work in the vineyard today." He answered, "No, I will not go." Later he thought it over and his conscience bothered him. He changed his mind and went to the vineyard. Then the father went to the other son and asked him to do the same. He replied, "Yes sir, I will go." But he did not go. Jesus then asked, "Which one of the two sons obeyed his father?" The chief priests and elders answered, "The first one." So, Jesus said to the religious leaders, "I tell you: the tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John the Baptizer showed you the right way to live but you would not believe him. However, the tax collectors and prostitues believed him. Even when you saw what the sinners did, you did not change your minds and believe him."
Thesis: The Kingdom of God is open to all sinners who repent and believe in Christ.
Theme:
Match words with deeds! Key Words in the Parable
1. "Think." (v. 28) Jesus used "think" as a way to involve his listeners in a subject. The discussion was abruptly cut off when Jesus answered his enemies' question with a question. Since they did not answer his question, he refused to answer their question. The result was an impasse. There was an uncomfortable silence. A gap between Jesus and his listeners existed. To get them involved in the subject that was dropped, he asked them to think. He then gave them a life situation of a father and two sons to think about. He asked them for an answer, and their answer incriminated them. As a master communicator, Jesus used an indirect and dialogical method to get people to think and come to the truth. Isaiah used the same method, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord." (Isaiah 1:18)
2. "Sons." (v. 28) The farmer had two sons. Both were "bad boys." The one said no to his father and the other said yes but did not do it. The two sons represented two kinds of sinners. One kind rebels but later obeys. The other readily promises to obey but does not. Repentant sinners enter the Kingdom of God, but the others remain outside the Kingdom until they, too, repent and believe.
3. "Repent." (vv. 29, 32) In the older son we have a good example of repentance. The son changed his mind from no to yes, from disobedience to obedience. Repentance is a radical turn-about. Therefore, it is more than admitting a wrong or feeling sorry for having done wrong. Repentance calls for a change of life, a new direction of life. Since we constantly sin, we need to repent daily.
4. "Not." (vv. 29, 30) In the parable we have two "nots." The one son said he would not go to work. The other did not go to work for his father. The first "not" refers to our rebellion and disobedience. We are natural rebels. We constantly say no to God, to truth, to law, to life. Crime is evidence of this kind of "not." The other "not" deals with hypocrisy. We worship but fail to work. We praise God with our lips but not with our lives. This kind of "not" stands for broken promises, religiosity, and pietism.
5. "Sir." (v. 30) The word, "sir," can also be translated as "Lord" as in Luke 6:46. Jesus once said that not everyone who says Lord (Sir) will enter the Kingdom. The younger son was more polite and respectful of his father because he called him "Sir." This excellent gesture, however, was nullified when he promised to go to work but failed to do so. Some Christians are very polite and proper in saying the right words and in praising the Lord, but in practice they fail to do God's work. They claim to be born-again, shout their alleluias, raise their hands, close their eyes, speak in tongues, but when the service is over, many are the same narrow-minded and selfish creatures they were before the worship service. There is more to discipleship than saying sugar-coated words about Jesus.
6. "Believe." (v. 32) Why, like the younger son, do we promise God to do his will and then fail? Why doesn't our worship result in work? Why don't our creeds turn into character? Referring to the Pharisees, Jesus explains their failure to be in the Kingdom of God - they did not repent and believe. In repentance we turn to God for forgiveness. By faith we accept his forgiveness. What is faith? It is ultimately obedience. We cannot say we believe in Christ and not follow his teachings. Faith leads to good works, because we obey God's commands to love and serve. Entrance into the Kingdom, then, finally depends on faith - "believe."
Contemplation
Insights
1. Repent now. The parable of the two sons emphasizes the importance of repentance in the plan of salvation. As both sons were sinners, all people are in the same condition. The older son repented in terms of changing his mind from no to yes, from rebellion to obedience. Repentance is more than a feeling of remorse; it is an action taken in the right direction. Since people constantly sin by saying no to God and his commandments, repentance is a daily requirement not only to enter but to remain in the Kingdom. Not only should repentance be a continual experience, but it needs to be in the present. It can come too late as in the case of Judas' repentance which could not prevent the cross from happening.
2. Faith in action. The younger son in the parable warns us against religiosity which consists of ceremony without service, faith without works, creeds without character, promises without fulfillment, and intentions without execution. When ritual, ceremony, and liturgy are used, we are only half way in our religion. The other half consists of actions, service, and implementation.
3. Promises, promises! When the father in the parable asked the younger son to go to work, the son cheerfully and courteously made a promise, "I go, sir." But, he did not go; be broke his promise. Promises are either empty or fulfilled. God always fulfills his promises. Can we say the same? Are parents keeping their promises made when their children were baptized? Are adults keeping the promises made when they joined the church? Are youth fulfilling their promises made at Confirmation? Are pastors true to their promises made at Ordination?
4. Christians outlived? Is it possible for a non-Christians to live a better moral life than a Christian? In the parable, the elder son who disobeyed eventually did better than his brother who obeyed only in word. The older son represents the sinners of Jesus' day: tax collectors and prostitutes, the "scum" of the day. These "bad" people - scribes, priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees - did not gain entrance. Much to our shame, some non-church people are kinder, more polite and considerate than the ever-going-to-church people. If non-Christian are obeying God's law of love for neighbor, are they in God's Kingdom?
5. Something worse than rebellion. We are shocked at the frank and brutal reply given by the olders son to his father's request for him to go work in the vineyard - "I will not." It was a flat, declarative, positive no, a defiance of his father's will. The son made no excuses, nor did he ask for an alternate task. Later he changed his mind and obeyed. This parable teaches us that we should not write off those who are defiant and rebellious. Later the doubters, cynics, and rebels may have a change of mind and come back to church. A rebellious teenager may one day show respect for parents. A severe critic of the church may eventually be a church leader. The disobedient one day may repent. Something worse than rebellion is the hypocritical "Yes sir, I'll go" because he did not go. As far as we know, this younger son never repented and went to work. Religious people can be lost in their self-satisfaction and ecclesiastical functions and ceremonies. They are lost in their religious smugness and feel no need to repent.
6. The greater sin. There are at least two kinds of sin: omission and commission. Both are in today's parable. Most of us think of sin only as commission in terms of thought, word, and deed. This was the sin of the older son - the sin of word: "No, I will not." It was frank and open disobedience. The greater sin is the sin of the other lad. He committed the sin of omission. He did not do what he said he would do. He did not help his father in the vineyard. He did not live up to his promise. Isn't it strange that we ask for forgiveness for the sins of commission but seldom confess the sins of what we have not done?
Homily Hints
1. Good, Better, and Best Boys. (2 1:28-32) In the parable there can be seen three grades of people. Every person fits into one of the categories:
A. Good people (religious people) - son said yes but did nothing - v. 30.
B. Better people (worldly people) - son said no but repented - v. 29.
C. Best people (Christian people) - an ideal son who said yes and did it.
2. Yes and No People. (21:28-32) According to the parable, humanity can be divided into yes and no people in their response to God's commands.
A. The No people.
1. Say no and hold to it.
2. Say no and repent.
B. The Yes people.
1. Say yes and do nothing.
2. Say yes and do it.
3. Why Change Your Mind? (21:28-32) The older son in the parable repented, or had a change of mind. What made him change his mind is not told us. If we would put ourselves in the parable and we changed our minds, why, do you think we would do it? Consider some possibilities if you were the older son.
A. Second thoughts.
My father has been good to me, raised me, provided for me. I can't do this to him; he does not deserve it.
B. Bad conscience.
My conscience bothers me. I should not have said no. God wants me to honor, respect, and obey my parents.
C. Respect authority.
He is my father. He has authority over me. A child is expected to obey. I have a duty to obey.
4. Think! (21:28) Jesus was ever trying to get people to think. Here is another time when he asked, "What do you think?" He presents a life situation or gives a question for us to think about in order to come to an answer. Some church people are anti-intellectuals who think Christianity is a matter only of the heart. Yet, in the greatest commandment, we are instructed to love God with all our minds. When some people come to worship, they park their minds outside with their cars. Some questions about thinking -
A. Do we ever stop to think?
B. Do we think ahead?
C. Do we think after we speak or act?
D. What do you think about?
5. How Has Your Mind Changed? (21:28-29) Some years ago a religious periodical carried a series of articles entitled, "How My Mind Changed." Leading theologians told how their ideas had changed over the years. The older son in the parable had a change of mind. As we grow and mature, our minds should change, too.
A. About yourself - do you still think your life is your own to do with as you please?
B. About happiness - do you still think happiness is in material possessions and pleasures?
C. About religion - do you still think religion is okay just for the weak and helpless?
Contact
Points of Contact
1. The parable of the two sons relates to the people in our pews because many may have a false sense of spiritual security similiar to the younger son who represents the smug religious leaders of Jesus' day. The average church is full of people who are content to come to church and say, "Yes, Lord," and go home to do nothing about putting into practice the truth and principles heard in the Word proclaimed that day. Like the religious leaders of Jesus' day, we may be shocked at the truth that "sinners" rather than us will enter the Kingdom of God.
2. If we are not smug in our religious devotions and practices, we may be negative and rebellious sons of the Father similar to the older son. We say no to God, to some of the teachings of the church, to the creeds, to the social statements of the church. But, there is hope for these rebels because, like the older son, they may change their minds and support the work of the church. Like some youth, we may go through a rebellious stage of life. These Christians are good sinners because they repent as the publicans and prostitutes did in Jesus' day. Repentance made them "good" and repentance was the door to the Kingdom of God.
3. Because today's parable enables us to see ourselves, it may make us very uncomfortable. We see ourselves as lifelong religious people who pray, worship, tithe (maybe!), and read the Bible. But, we realize we fail to put our faith into action. It is easy to pray for the poor and homeless but do nothing to alleviate the situation. By our faithfulness in church attendance and support we think we are safe and secure for eternity, but Jesus shocks us by saying repentant sinners go into the Kingdom before we do, if we get to enter at all. Our sins of omission suggest we are disillusioning ourselves that we are in the Kingdom when we may not be.
Points to Ponder
1. If we continue to preach on the Gospel Lessons, starting today we face three parables with the same theme:
Pentecost 19 - the parable of the two sons.
Pentecost 20 - the parable of the renters.
Pentecost 21 - the parable of the wedding feast.
The theme is the same in all three - the rejection of Jesus by people who would be expected to accept him such as the younger son in the parable of these two sons, or the tenants, or those who received an invitation to the banquet. A preacher will be wise to look at all three and discover the approach and emphasis to be made in each parable in order to avoid repetition. This is a challenge to a preacher's creativity.
2. It seems that with each parable we must ask, "Where is the Gospel in this parable?" A Christian preacher is called and ordained to preach the Gospel in every sermon. Today's parable presents us with a problem of whether we enter the Kingdom of God by faith or works. The younger son representing the religious leaders of Jesus' day did not enter the Kingdom because of failure to obey his father. The older son, representing "sinners," gained admission because he repented and went to work for his father. His obedience opened the door to the Kingdom. Previously Jesus said that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" shall enter the Kingdom, but rather those who do the will of God. (Matthew 7:21)
In the perspective of the total teaching of the New Testament, we know that good works, obedience to the Lord's commands, cannot earn merit for inclusion in the Kingdom. It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ. Where then does obedience enter? True faith always results in obedient service. The lack of obedience indicates the absence of faith. So, here is the Gospel: we are permitted in God's Kingdom because our faith in Christ produces deeds of service through obedience to God's command to work in his vineyard.
Illustrative Materials
1. Change of Mind. A boy went into a store to buy a ball. He saw a large ball which he wanted but it cost more money than he had. When no one was looking, he exchanged the price tag of a smaller ball to the larger ball. He left with the larger ball paid for according to the small ball price. When he got home, he began to think about what he had done and realized it was wrong. The next day he went back and told the store clerk what he had done and paid the difference.
2. Say Yes but Do Nothing. In 1495 Mohammedan troops surrounded Constantinople. The big question was whether the Balkans would be under Christian or Mohammedan domination for centuries. While the threat existed and the big question was faced, the church council in Constantinople was meeting to discuss:
What color were the eyes of the Virgin?
What sex are the angels?
What happens when a fly falls into sanctified water - is the fly sanctified or is the water polluted?
Someone confessed to Ann Landers a sin of omission: "Several years ago, after Christmas shopping, I was waiting for my bus. It was bitter cold and the corner was crowded with holiday shoppers. I noticed a thin, elderly, shabbily dressed woman whose worn-out shoes were tied to her feet with rags. There was a shoestore across the street from the bus stop. I was aching to take that woman over there and buy her a pair of nice shoes. But I didn't do it."
3. A Modern Two Sons. Gerald Kennedy tells of an interview he once had with Prime Minister Nehru. Though Nehru was close to Ghandi, he did not claim to be a religious man. However, he used the method of non-violence. Kennedy asked him why he used this method. He explained that he found it to be a practical method that worked. In contrast, Kennedy thought of Christians who believe nonviolence is right but who do not think it will work. With no religion Nehru took Jesus' way while Christians who claim to believe in Jesus do not use his method.
4. Broken Promise. Reuel Howe tells about an experience he had when he was sixteen years old. The captain of a ship scheduled to explore Alaska promised him that he could be one of the crew. Some time later he learned that the ship had left without him in spite of the captain's promise to call him and let him know when the ship would sail.
5. Sunday Religion, Monday Practice. The New York Times asked the founder of McDonalds fast food restaurants what he believed in. He replied, "God, my family, and McDonald's hamburgers." Then he added, "And when I get to the office, I reverse the order."
6. Caring By Deed. One day a boy was walking in the street carrying a basket of eggs. He tripped on the curbstone, dropped the basket, and the eggs were smashed. A crowd gathered at the scene. One said, "What a pity!" Another said, "I'm sorry he is crying. Let's comfort him." Then a man stepped forward, reached into his pocket, and said, "I care a dollar. How much do you care?"
7. Disobedience. A bumper sticker: "Don't tell me what kind of day to have!" Even if it is "Have a good day!"
8. Respectable Sinners. A church in Hickory, North Carolina advertises: "Where some of the most respectable sinners in Hickory worship."
9. Preaching without Practice. In 1988 there was a 60 Minutes interview with the president of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The president was proud to announce that recently the church had adopted a resolution condemning apartheid. Further questioning revealed that implementation of that resolution had thus far failed. There were no blacks in white churches!
