Dr. Bradford Reaves
CrossWay Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
As we continue through the parables, I realize that this is one of those parables that has always confounded me. It confounds me not because of the application but because of the theology. Most tried to impose that the two sons in this parable represent Israel and the Gentiles. At first glance, that seems like a pretty logical conclusion. However, it is common to introduce some pretty deep theological problems that we have to consider.
First, this leads us to a replacement theology interpretation. Secondly, Jesus addressed his disciples in the context of understanding the Kingdom of Heaven. We know that replacement theology is a broken theology not rooted in the Bible. We also know that Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience to convey an understanding of Kingdom principles lost through the broken principles taught by the Pharisees. With both interpretations debunked, we are forced to return to our interpretive principles to get a better understanding of Jesus's words.
With that, let me introduce a better interpretation for us to follow, and then we will break down this sermon into verses. The better interpretation is about the character and nature of those who claim to belong to the Kingdom – Jew or Gentile. There are many who talk about Jesus or celebrate Jesus, and they like to believe that it assures them of a spot in Heaven. So with that, they go and live their life however they desire, never considering the importance of their obedience to God. Jesus uses this parable as another warning to those who give lip service only to God.
I believe this parable answers the question in the Sermon on the Mount to Matthew 7:21 “21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. (Matthew 21:23-27 ESV)
As with every parable, we must interpret it with appropriate context. We are in the last week before Jesus’ crucifixion. Several key events have played out to lead to this conversation. First, we have Jesus arrive in Bethany and have dinner with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. On Monday, we have the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, with Jesus cleansing the Temple on Tuesday. It is now Wednesday, and Jesus has cursed the fig tree. He is now back in the Temple teaching when he is confronted by the Chief Priests and the Elders. Notice that they are not questioning his actions - they are questioning his authority.
Now, we’re going to stop right there because this is the crux of understanding the entire parable. We’re dealing with the authority of Jesus. So let’s take a look at the question the religious leaders pose… it is all about Jesus’ authority.
When we think about authority, several things come to our mind. We must understand that it is the power or right to make decisions and enforce command. Authority can be derived from different sources, such as law, tradition, expertise, charisma, or consent. Depending on the context, we see people in authority in different ways:
· Uniforms, badges, including the rank on that uniform.
· Titles, credentials, diplomas, and certificates that demonstrate the knowledge, skill, or qualification of someone.
· Media or propaganda that portrays the image of the authority figure.
· Technology, weapons, tools, and equipment that influence the control of the authority figure.
· Followers, supporters, allies, and networks that affirm, endorse, or legitimize the authority figure.
However, we have to recognize that these visualizations are not fixed or universal, and so we need to dig deeper into what the Priests and Elders are asking Jesus because Jesus had nothing physically, socially, or politically about him that demanded authority, and yet he walked in complete authority. That is because he was given all authority from God the Father, and more significant than social, political, or physical authority is that Jesus was in authority over the spiritual things.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)
And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:2)
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18)
Now, there are two Greek words that can be used to describe our English word authority. The first is Dunamis. This means power. It is where we get our word dynamite from for authority through power. So, when we use the word dunamis, we’re talking about the ability to do something. The second word is exousía, which is also translated as authority, but it has to do with the right to do something. With Jesus, he not only has the ability to do something, but he has the right to do it.
And so as Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, or goes into the temple and clears out the money changers, or teaches with authority, he is doing it with both the power and the privilege from God the Father and this blows the Jews away because he is not acting under the authority of the Jewish leadership, he is doing all things under his own authority.
So now, in verse 25, Jesus doesn't answer the Priest's question by justifying himself. He turns their own hypocrisy back on themselves by asking about the authority of John the Baptist. Now, you have to understand that this is a big group of Jewish leaders, including Caiaphas and Annas. These were people in high command of the temple and of the Jewish people.
They are the ones who are plotting to get rid of Jesus by killing him. They are coming to him to trap him by asking him, “Where do you get your credentials?” Hoping that he will say he is from God so that they can convict him of blasphemy. In typical rabbinic fashion, Jesus turns their question around them by asking them a question about the authority of John the Baptist. In doing so, he exposes their hearts as being more loyal to their power than they are to God.
For them to respond, ‘we don’t know’ means they knew they were gotten, so they are just going to refuse to answer. With this, Jesus takes authority over the situation and tells them that he is not going to answer them either (v27). Which brings us to the parable:
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “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 when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32)
Jesus puts a second question in front of the leaders through a parable that is very simple and easy to decipher. It's not meant to trap them; it's meant to expose the nature of the Kingdom of God and the coldness of their hearts towards the things of God and the heart of God. God is not looking for piety; he's looking for repentance.
To illustrate this, God gives them a parable using two sons. Both were asked to go into the vineyard to work. One said no but later decided to do what was right. The other said yes, he would go, but later decided not to do what the father asked. The question Jesus asks is, “Which one of the two sons did what the father wanted him to do?” (v.31).
The answer to this question couldn't be more obvious. The first son. The one who did what the father wanted was the one who obeyed. In other words, what counts is not words but actions. What counts is not what we say or the promises we make, but rather what counts is what we do with the faith we claim to have. The tax collectors and prostitutes started it off in the wrong way but saw the failure in their hearts and repented. They believed and gave up their sin to do what was right and turned towards God. They will enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the Jewish leaders.
This parable teaches us two important lessons. First, anyone can come to Jesus through faith and repentance. No matter what happened in the past, your eternity is determined by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Secondly, coming to God is not based upon the promises you make to Him or what you claim to believe. What counts is your actual love and devotion to God. This is seen in your worship and your loving service to others.
You and I 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 a little shepherd boy and became a great king;
· Paul started out as Saul killing Christians and ended up being a great man of God;
(James Chandler, Sermon Central)
Too many in the church today start off in their faith strong and energetic and fall away, backslide, and turn back to their old lives. It isn’t how you start; it is how you finish. Too many times, people hear the cry for repentance and baptism, and after they are baptized, they fall away from the faith. In their hearts, they think they’ve reached the goal when in reality, they only started the journey. This brings me to an important point for us as a church: discipleship matters.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12–14)
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6–8)
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28–31)
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:7)
The second son frightens me because he has the same attitude of many modern Christians. We want a good experience in the worship service, the music just right, the coffee hot, the reception warm, the sermons short. We’ll even come to the altar and ask for forgiveness, yet turn around and live our lives in complete rebellion Monday through Saturday.
The crowd who says “Yes” on Sunday but goes out and says “no” with their actions the rest of the week is no different than the Pharisees. Likewise, those who struggle with the message on Sunday but take it to heart throughout the rest of their week are the ones who will find hope and healing. The point is, if you’re struggling, you are not alone - Christ is with you.
[play My Mechanics Video]
Here's my message to us this morning, CrossWay. We need to get serious about good discipleship. I am grateful that God is doing such powerful work among us, as we've seen many come to know the Lord. There is much to rejoice in that, but that is not the end of our responsibility in the Kingdom of God. More than ever, we need to get serious about discipleship.
My first question for you this morning is about those who are Backsliding. If that describes you this morning, that the words from your lips do not match the actions in your life, then today needs to be a changing moment for you.
Backsliding is not losing one’s salvation according to John 5:24. It is breaking fellowship with God, it is becoming at ease in the things of God. (Sermon Central)
Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return. 6 I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. 7 Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the Lord. (Jeremiah 8:5-7)
Some time ago, I became fascinated with videos on YouTube of a man who would take something old and deteriorated and restore it back to its original luster. The video only shows the hands of the man who sands, trims, restores, and continues to work on every detail until the finished product is even better than the original.
This is the work of God and the life of the believer. When we backslide, we demand that God take His hand off of our lives. In doing so, we are saying, ‘No, Lord. I know better.” You are, in essence, questioning Jesus’ authority over your life.
