John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. (Mark 1:4-5; see THE GOSPEL: John The Baptiser) And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. (Luke 7:29-30; see THE GOSPEL: Good and Wise Servant, Well Done)
These previous scriptures from previous studies help us understand the background behind the parable Jesus was getting ready to teach the religious leaders about themselves. Remember in the previous study, ...the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” (Luke 20:1-2; Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:27-28) But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: (Matthew 21:24; Luke 20:3; Mark 11:29) The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:4; Matthew 21:25; Mark 11:30) ... So they answered that they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20:5-8; Matthew 21:25-27; Mark 11:31-33; see THE GOSPEL: Sincere Questions Get Answered)
“But what do you think? A 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 regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32)
"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37) Jesus did it again! Through His parables, simple stories that illustrate a moral or religious lesson, people came to a clear understanding of what God was teaching and what was right vs. wrong. (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Teaches in Parables! Why?) Jesus didn't tell them the moral of the story; the religious leaders answered on their own. "Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Both sons were asked by the father to do the exact same thing, work today in my vineyard. The first son said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. The first son represents tax collectors and harlots, who heard the righteous teaching of John, and although they were considered sinners by the Jewish religious leaders, they believed him.
But the second son answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. This second son represented the Jews and their religious leaders. God prophesied through Ezekiel exactly what Jesus was teaching them about themselves. [The first son:] Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [The second son:] Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezekiel 18:27-32)
What a sincere and heartfelt plea by God, "Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!” For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4) Let us not be like the Pharisees and lawyers, the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, the second son, the house of Israel, who would not repent, and turn from all their transgressions, so that iniquity will not be their ruin. Let us be like the tax collectors and harlots, sinners, the first son, the wicked man, who turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Through the power of God's Holy Spirit, we can and will be able to do this, if we put our faith and trust in Christ Jesus!
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