Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:28-32

The Parable Of The Two

Sons

Setting In Jerusalem on Tuesday

During the last week of Jesus’ earthly life It was His final day of public teaching His “triumphant entry” was 2 days prior

Mt 21:1-11 Lk 19:39

The Two SonsMatt 21:28-32


On Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple Mt 21:12-13

Indignant, the Jews demanded Jesus produce the “authority” by which He was acting Mt 21:23



Jesus agrees to answer their question if they will answer His question re: the baptism of John Mt 21:24-27


Setting The demand “By what authority…”

clearly revealed the Jews’ sinister plot Jesus’ actions on Monday stung them On Tuesday, they came at Him in waves It didn’t matter how He answered…they

were going to kill Him


Setting The demand “By what authority…”

clearly revealed the Jews’ sinister plot What they wanted first was to discredit

Him publicly Their intentions the previous Friday in

Bethany show their plan Jn 12:9-11


The Parable A man wanted 2 sons to work vv. 28-30

He tells the 1st son “Go work” The son says “I will” but doesn’t go

He tells the 2nd son the same thing The son says “I will not” but later regrets

his disobedience, repents, & goes


The Parable Jesus asked the Jews which son did the

will of his father v. 31a To their own injury, the Jews answered

correctly v. 31b One can almost image how begrudgingly

they answered this question


The Parable These Jews had already refused to

answer Jesus’ question vv. 25-27 Even though their insincerity made them

unworthy of answering, Jesus was not through with them Thus, He told this parable


The Parable Jesus will now bring the Jews’ answer

full circle vv. 31c-32 They have condemned themselves Those they despised (tax collectors,

harlots) will get into the kingdom of God ahead of them



full circle vv. 31c-32 John came…“sinners” heard his

preaching, believed, and repented These Jews did not believe John…they

even slandered him Mt 11:18



full circle vv. 31c-32 Even after witnessing the repentance of

“sinners,” these Jews still would not show remorse at their rejection of John’s preaching


The Application Identifying each son

Son # 1 (He said he would go, but didn’t) The Jews (scribes, Pharisees) All they ever did was for public show Hypocrisy, pretense Mt 15:7-9 23:2-36


The Application Identifying each son

Son # 2 (He said he wouldn’t go, but did) The “sinners” (tax collectors, harlots) Their lives reflected their disobedience Yet, they considered John’s & Jesus’

preaching…repented, and obeyed


The Application This parable was told to expose the

hypocrisy of the Jews vv. 23-27 Remember…they had “demanded” the

authority by which Jesus acted They had refused to answer His question

re: John’s baptism


The Application This parable was told to expose the

hypocrisy of the Jews vv. 23-27 When they did answer the question from

this parable, Jesus applied their reply back to their rejection of John, his preaching, and his baptism v. 32


The Lesson The main idea = OBEDIENCE

God is gracious to those who previously have disobeyed, but who afterwards listen to His word, consider their rejection, and repent


The Lesson The main idea = OBEDIENCE

God has no patience for those whose religion is nothing but empty ritualistic promises that never intend to be honored, and who do what they do religiously only to be seen by others


The Lesson The main idea = OBEDIENCE Which son am I?

Am I only “talking the game?” Am I remorseful of my disobedience and

willing to change my sinful ways?


The Lesson Some modern-day applications…

What of Christians who faithfully attend, sing, pray, contribute, commune, etc. but whose personal lives do not reflect the N.T. teachings of Christ?

WHICH SON?


The Lesson Some modern-day applications…

What of Christians who point to the Scripture re: moral & spiritual obligations, yet whose personal lives do not reflect those same teachings?

WHICH SON?


Matthew 21:28-32

Documents

Transcript of Matthew 21:28-32