What Does It Takes To Enter God’s Kingdom
Matt.21: 28-32
Note: Some materials of this sermon are taken from sermoncentral.com
This morning, we will study the parable of the two sons. The Lord addressed this parable to the religious leaders who were around him that time to find reasons to accuse Him. This parable is very simple and clear. It is about a father who told both of his two sons to go to his vineyard to work. The first son refused but later on he changed his mind and went to the vineyard of his father. The second son said “I go” but never went to the vineyard to obey his father’s command.
The first son represents the prostitutes and the tax-collectors –the ones who were considered the public sinners at that time. The second son represents the Pharisees, the scribes, and the teachers of the law –these were the religionists. Now, guess who are likely to enter God’s kingdom. In verse 31, Jesus made a shocking statement to the religious leaders who were around Him. He says: “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
Well, the Lord did not mean here that prostitution is giving anyone entry to God’s kingdom. He never commended prostitution and tax-collecting above religiosity and spiritual servitude. This parable is not intended to make a comparison between the prostitutes and the Pharisees. Instead Jesus used this parable to teach us important truths to correct some common errors about entering God’s kingdom. This parable teaches us that:
A. GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO ENTER INTO HIS KINGDOM
The father in the parable commanded his sons to go and work in his vineyard. Notice that the command “go work” is an emphatic imperative. He made his command simple, straight, and clear. It means that the father really meant what he said. He made it clear to his sons that he wanted them to be in his vineyard. He does not want to find them in any other place other than his vineyard. It is as if the father had no other option for his sons. There’s only one place that he wanted his sons to be in –his vineyard.
Now look at this: the father in the parable represents the loving God. He wanted every person in this world to enter into His kingdom. In fact, He thinks of no other option for every human being which He created after His own image but to be in His kingdom. He wants them to belong to His family; He wants them to become citizens of His kingdom. God does not want them to be anywhere other than His kingdom. Thus the invitation to enter the kingdom of God has been proclaimed. Thus God calls and sends His servants to proclaim his invitation to every human being.
Now this corrects the idea that God is like an angry despot who would send everyone he dislikes to condemnation. Instead, the Bible tells us that God is a loving and a merciful God who wants every person in this planet to be saved and be spared from condemnation. Hell is not God’s option for the sinners. Hell, however, is the sinners’ option for themselves. Look at the parable: the father summoned his sons to go but he never forced them to obey. This tells us that every person is responsible for the decision and response he makes to God’s invitation.
B. GOD EXTENDS HIS INVITATION TO ALL
We find in the parable that the father approached his sons, one after the other, and told them to go to his vineyard. It was not the eldest or the youngest only, he approached both of them. He never left the youngest or the eldest uninvited. Certainly, the father knew his sons well because everything in a father and son relationship is predictable. He knew his sons very well. He knew their character. He knew their personal preferences. But you see, the father did not mind what his sons are doing and minding at the moment, and he’s not requiring them how they would respond to Him. The personal condition of the sons did not in any way cause the father to make bias actions or did not hinder him to summon them. He just simply approached both of them and told them to go.
This parable corrects the error of God’s selective election. God calls to salvation the good and the bad. He calls to salvation the religious and the pagans, the Jews and the Gentiles, as Paul says, “God is not respecter of person.” This is a shocking teaching to the Jews in general because they thought they were the only chosen people of God and every non-Jew is cursed and rejected by God. And it shocked the Pharisees the more because they were thinking that they were in a better spiritual position than any person –they were Jews and protectors of the law. Moreover, they too lived a very strict religious life.
But look at here: Jesus said: “The prostitutes and the tax-collectors are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” The prostitutes and the tax-collectors are the most unlikely people to enter God’s kingdom, at least in the mind of the Pharisees. Jesus did not say that you will enter God’s kingdom if you live a life of sin. Jesus is saying instead that God is extending His invitation to everyone to enter His kingdom regardless of their moral and religious condition. That is, if a prostitute accepts the invitation of God, she will surely enter God’s kingdom. And if a religious man relies in his religion and does not accept the invitation of God’s salvation, he will not enter God’s kingdom. Jesus said to the Pharisees: “You rejected the invitation of God through John but the prostitutes and tax-collectors received it, they will enter God’s kingdom ahead of you, unless you repent of your sins.”
Application: First, God loves no one better than others. No one is in a better spiritual position than any other person. Second, there’s nothing that could make God rejects anyone who would come to Him. A songwriter expressed it well, he wrote: “Nothing you’ve done that could make Him love you more. Nothing you’ve done that could make Him close the door.” Praise God, He chose us because He loved us. He accepted us when we accepted His invitation for us.
C. NO ONE ENTERS THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND LIVES AS HE WANTS
In this parable Jesus indicates the principle that when a person accepts God’s invitation to belong to His kingdom, he would never live his life as he wants, but as God wants.
Example no.1: The first son in the parable responded his father’s command, "I will not." This was a disrespectful rebellion. It was the refusal of a son who wished to go his own way in life; who rebelled at being told what to do. He was selfish, worldly, carnal, fleshly, materialistic, and prideful. He would have his own way and do his own thing regardless. However, hen he came to his senses, he repented and went. The word repent means to change, to turn. The first son changed and turned from his self-chosen life of rebellion and selfishness —he turned back to his father and went into his father’s vineyard to work. He did exactly what his father commanded him to do. When he ultimately responded to the father’s invitation, he started living his life no longer as he wanted.
Example no.2: The second son said "I go, sir." Note: his response indicates that he will go immediately and serve zealously in the father’s work. He said I go to work for you. But he failed; he never did go to work for his father. He went to work, but not for his father. He was just like the first son: selfish, disregarding the father and his needs. He went about his own life, living and working for himself. The only difference between the two sons is that the second son professed respect for the father and professed to work for the father, but he never went into the father’s vineyard. He never did the father’s work. This implies that what he did day by day was his own work, his own labor. He worked and lived as he wished, disregarding the father entirely. Jesus said to the Pharisees: “You are the second son. You lived as you wanted. You disregarded the way, the word, and the will of God. You will never enter the kingdom of God unless you repent and change.” They were condemned because they lived a life of lie to God. They say one thing, and do one thing. Their actions did not match their confession and profession.
Be careful to avoid the sin of the second son. If you say you are going to do something especially about your spiritual relationship with God, you better do it. It is called follow through.
We must remember that in life, it isn’t how we start that matters it is how we finish.
Moses started out as an abandoned baby, became a great leader.
David started out as little shepherd boy, became a great king.
Paul started out as Saul killing Christians, ended up a great man of God.
The list goes on and on.
Judas started out as a faithful follower of Jesus, ended up a traitor who killed himself.
Take note of this: No one enters God’s kingdom and lives as he wants.
CONCLUSION:
The bible tells us that “He saves us because of his mercy, not because of the righteous things we have done.” He accepted us regardless of who we are. But as we enter his kingdom and become His people, we are no longer to live our life as we want or as we wish, but as God wants it.
