517. MAT 21:28-31. THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

Mat_21:28-31. The Parable of the Two Sons

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went," &c.’97Mat_21:28-31.

Many of the scribes and Pharisees exhibited the most deep-rooted and inveterate prejudice against the Saviour’s teaching and mission. Often they endeavored to catch him in his sayings, that they might have some charge against him. Jesus often, therefore, self-convicted them, and out of their own mouths overwhelmed them with confusion. We have a striking instance of this in the passage connected with this subject. To show their perverseness, the Saviour addressed to them this parable, and by their own confessions he involved them in self-condemnation, Mat_21:31, Mat_21:32. Observe,

I. The reasonable commands of the father. "A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard," Mat_21:28. Observe,

1. The nature of the command. "To work in the vineyard." Man was intended for labor. He was made for it. Even in paradise, our first parents were called to it. Indolence is pernicious to body, soul, spirit, and reputation. It is a withering blight. Labor is dignified, and productive both of health and enjoyment. Hence the command itself was reasonable and proper. God calls men to the great work of personal religion. To work out their own salvation, &c. To give diligence to make their calling and election sure. To work while it is called day. Soul work, is all-important, the chief end of life. Observe,

2. The sphere of labor appointed. The father’s vineyard. A place in which the sons were personally interested. Now God’s vineyard is his church. Into this we are to enter by personal piety, and here we are to grow in meetness for heaven. Here we are to improve our graces, employ our talents, do good to men, and glorify God. Has not God a right to specify both the sphere of duty and the labor he demands? Notice,

3. The manner in which the command was delivered. And said, "Son, go work today," &c. Here was nothing harsh or tyrannical. He speaks with authority, but it is the authority of a parent. He addresses him as his son, and thus conveys the idea of the relationship subsisting between them. As son, he owed his father reverence and cheerful obedience. God is our heavenly Father. We are therefore all his offspring. He is not only the Author of our being, but the source of all our mercies. What reverence, obedience, and grateful love we owe to him. We are not our own but his, for he hath not only created and preserved, but redeemed us. Observe,

4. The period of labor required. "Go work today." Daytime is working time. There is light for working, and opportunity also. The period allotted for labor. God worked during the six days of the creation of our world. Life is the day for religious working. "Life is the time to serve the Lord." Jesus said, "I must work while it is called day," &c. What a transient period is the day of life. How soon it passes away. How often interrupted and frequently curtailed by sudden and early death. Such were the reasonable requirements of the father, and the claims of God on his creatures. Notice,

II. The strange and diversified answers of the sons.

(1.) The first said, "I will not." What disobedience, insolence, and rebellion. A direct and impertinent refusal. What baseness, and fool-hardihood, and filial ingratitude it involved. Surely of this abandoned son there could be no hope.

(2.) The second said, "I go, sir." Here was respect, submission, and promised obedience. How forcibly and beautifully it contrasts with the rebellious rudeness of the other. God demands the reverence and fear of his creatures. Divine things and claims must be treated with seriousness and respect. But observe,

III. The conduct of the sons which so strangely contrasted with the answers given.

1. The rebellious son becomes penitent and obedient. Such were the publicans and sinners to whom John the Baptist preached. So also the publicans and sinners to whom the Saviour preached. They notoriously despised sacred things. Were abandoned and profligate, yet they repented and obeyed the Baptist, they repented and received salvation from Christ Jesus. How often it has been so. Cavilling skeptics’97profane scoffers,’97The openly profane have heard and believed the gospel, to the salvation of their souls. The chief of sinners have been brought to Christ. Zaccheus, the tax-gatherer. The woman who was a sinner. The dying thief. The Corinthian convert. John Bunyan, the swearing tinker, and myriads of like character and condition.

2. The courteous son was disobedient and deceiving. All he did was to be civil and promise fairly. For of him it is said, "He went not." Such were the scribes and Pharisees. They made high pretensions; they professed much, talked much. But, alas! this was all; they said, and did not. It was merely Lord, Lord, in the mouth, but they did not the things which were commanded. They repented not of sin. They believed not in Christ. They were not sincere workers of godliness before the Lord. How fearfully this will apply,

(1.) To many children of religious parents. They attend with them on the means of grace. They are moral, respectful in their religious conversation, they promise fair, but "go not."

(2.) To many who regularly frequent the house of God. They attend, and listen, and seem interested; but they move not in the way of repentance and holiness.

(3.) It is a faithful picture of many professors. All their religion is in name, in show,’97in outside appearance. They walk not in Christ’s vineyard. They are not spiritual, or useful, trees with leaves without fruit. Ciphers, cumberers of the ground. How fearful this state! How awful their doom!

Learn,

1. The efficacy of the grace of God to save the vilest of sinners.

2. The importance of experimental and practical religion.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS