Jesus had just asked the chief priests and
scribes (hierarchy of the Temple) concerning the source of the authority of
John the Baptist, and put them in a dilemma. If they had said from heaven, they
reckoned that He would ask them, “Why didn’t you follow him?” And if they said
from men, they feared the displeasure of the people. So they refused to answer
that question of Jesus. Sensing that they were back pedalling, Jesus then seized
the advantage.
He told them that John came with his message
of righteousness. Some people whose lives seemed to be in opposition to God,
believed him. But then there are those who appeared as if they were God’s chosen
ones, yet they refused to do what John had said. These two groups are like the
two sons in that parable. One of them said no to the father but later changed
his mind and did what the father had asked. The other said yes, but then didn’t
do it.
Jesus pointedly said that the first son might
have disrespectfully told his father that he refused to work today, but he later
went and did the father’s bidding. He represents the tax-collectors and
prostitutes. Though their lives seemed to be yelling “No” to the father, but
when they heard John’s message, they repented. This was reflected in the change
in their minds and lifestyle. The second son respectfully told his father “Yes”
he would go and work but then didn’t. He represents the priests, scribes and
other leaders. They appeared to be doing God’s will, by putting up a façade.
They had refused to accept John’s message. They refused to accept his message
of repentance and also refused to acknowledge the Messiah whom he had
proclaimed. And now the Messiah Himself was before them and calling them into
accounting and they didn’t like it.
Whatever message we might have heard
concerning the intention of this parable of the two sons, one thing is clear. If we have lived like
the second son, saying "Yes" to God in some areas of our lives and then went and live a life that contradicts our response, we must repent and deal with those areas now. God expects us to live
congruently. So let our yes be yes and no be no, anything further will become
deceitful.
No comments:
Post a Comment