OBEDIENCE: TWO SONS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Obedience
a) The parables of Two Builders and the Two Sons bring us to obedience.
b) We start looking at parables that show how God requires obedience, fruitfulness, and stewardship in his kingdom (Theme 3).
c) The parables of the two builders and the two sons illustrate that God requires people to give heed to his word and to obey it (Matthew 7:21-27).
d) These parables highlight two aspects of that obedience:
i) You can do nothing wiser than to obey the Lord.
ii) Lip service is no substitute. Lip service means saying “YES” with your mouth but saying “NO” in your heart and by your actions. It is honoring God with your lips when your heart is far from him.
2. Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
“28 Jesus said [to the chief priests and elders], "What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 The son answered, 'I will not,' but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the other son and said the same. This son answered, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.
31 Which of the two sons did the will of his father?" They replied, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even after you saw that happen, you did not change your minds and believe him."”
i) Matthew 21:28-29 describes a simple interaction between a man and the first of his two sons. He told this first son, "I want you to go and work in the vineyard today." The lad said, "I won't go", but he changed his mind and did go.
ii) The first son in the parable of the two sons, is like the wise builder in the parable of the two builders. These men represent those who hear and obey the word of the Lord, even though at first they may have defied him.
iii) Matthew 21:30 describes the man’s interaction with his second son on the same terms, "I want you to go and work in the vineyard today." This son’s response is the opposite of the first son’s. This second son said, "I will go," but he didn't go.
iv) The second son in the parable of the two sons, is like the foolish man in the parable of the two builders. These men represent those who may say, "Yes Lord" when they hear Jesus’s words, but they in fact do not obey.
v) Matthew 21:31 makes the application of the parable. The kingdom of God does not consist of people who pay lip service to God and then disobey him. Rather it consists of people who may have defied and disobeyed him, but who then have genuinely repented and truly obeyed. These, and these alone, will be saved from the wrath of God and belong to the kingdom of God.
The End ...
1. Obediencea) The parables of Two Builders and the Two Sons bring us to obedience.
b) We start looking at parables that show how God requires obedience, fruitfulness, and stewardship in his kingdom (Theme 3).
c) The parables of the two builders and the two sons illustrate that God requires people to give heed to his word and to obey it (Matthew 7:21-27).
d) These parables highlight two aspects of that obedience:
i) You can do nothing wiser than to obey the Lord.
ii) Lip service is no substitute. Lip service means saying “YES” with your mouth but saying “NO” in your heart and by your actions. It is honoring God with your lips when your heart is far from him.
2. Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
“28 Jesus said [to the chief priests and elders], "What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 The son answered, 'I will not,' but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the other son and said the same. This son answered, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.
31 Which of the two sons did the will of his father?" They replied, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even after you saw that happen, you did not change your minds and believe him."”
i) Matthew 21:28-29 describes a simple interaction between a man and the first of his two sons. He told this first son, "I want you to go and work in the vineyard today." The lad said, "I won't go", but he changed his mind and did go.
ii) The first son in the parable of the two sons, is like the wise builder in the parable of the two builders. These men represent those who hear and obey the word of the Lord, even though at first they may have defied him.
iii) Matthew 21:30 describes the man’s interaction with his second son on the same terms, "I want you to go and work in the vineyard today." This son’s response is the opposite of the first son’s. This second son said, "I will go," but he didn't go.
iv) The second son in the parable of the two sons, is like the foolish man in the parable of the two builders. These men represent those who may say, "Yes Lord" when they hear Jesus’s words, but they in fact do not obey.
v) Matthew 21:31 makes the application of the parable. The kingdom of God does not consist of people who pay lip service to God and then disobey him. Rather it consists of people who may have defied and disobeyed him, but who then have genuinely repented and truly obeyed. These, and these alone, will be saved from the wrath of God and belong to the kingdom of God.
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