The Vineyard Part 2: The Sons Who Changed Their Minds

Matthew 21:28–32 (text); Jeremiah 7:22-26
© November 9, 2014 • Download this sermon (PDF)

Introduction

Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ: Continuing on the Parables of Jesus, we come now to what’s commonly known as the Parable of the Two Sons. No, this is not the same as the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Older Brother, though there are small similarities. And why is the title of this sermon “The Vineyard Part 2?” when there is no Part 1 sermon as yet?

The bigger context of this parable is Matthew Chapters 20-21. In these chapters, Jesus narrates two other parables: The Workers in the Vineyard and The Wicked Tenants. The Two Sons is sandwiched between these two. Today, Pastor Lance Filio is preaching The Workers in the Vineyard in Imus, so I would skip this parable here. Instead, I will post his sermon and also some additional thoughts. So our parable today is The Vineyard Part 2.

As usual, Jesus narrates this parable in response to a question by his audience, the Jewish chief priests, elders, and Pharisees (vv 23, 45): “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matt 21:23). Recall that the day before, Jesus entered Jerusalem acclaimed by the people as the Son of David, the Messiah. He then went to the Temple, and drove away the merchants there. He also healed many who were blind and lame. So this parable is in response to the Jews who were questioning the authority of his words and deeds. Remember that back in Matthew 7:28-29, many were astonished at Jesus’ teachings, “for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”

In his response, Jesus cleverly inserted the ministry of John the Baptizer, asking the Jews, “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” (Matt 21:25) And the Jews were stumped and could not answer, so Jesus said he will also not tell them about his authority. The main point of these three parables then is God’s judgment against the Jews and their religion of works because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. He therefore used John’s rejection by the Jews as a springboard to pronounce judgment against them.

This parable, not found in the other three gospels, is simple and straightforward. A family has a vineyard, and the father calls his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first one says no, but later changed his mind and goes to work. The second one initially says yes, but he never actually goes to work. Then Jesus asks his audience, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (v 31). The Jews were quick to respond, “the first,” putting themselves in the shoes of the first son’s action as God’s obedient children.

But considering both sons, they were both disrespectful to their father. The first one brushed him aside with, “I will not,” without even addressing the father with a respectful, “sir.” The second one pretends to be respectful, saying, “I’m going, sir,” but disrespected him by not actually obeying. Both of them did not have words and deeds, but only one or the other.

So our theme today is, “The Vineyard Part 2: The Sons Who Changed Their Minds” under two headings: first, Disobedient, Then Obedient; second, Obedient, Then Disobedient.

Disobedient, Then Obedient

The first son the father commanded only had deeds. His words were words of disobedience and disrespect. It would be the equivalent of answering our parents “Oo” instead of “Opo.” He categorically said he did not want to work in the vineyard.

As was mentioned, in these chapters, Jesus told three parables about the vineyard that a man owned. The first one is about the workers in the vineyard. The second one is about these two sons whom a father commanded to work in the family’s vineyard. The third one is about the tenants in the vineyard. In these three of parables, the vineyard represents God’s covenant people whom he had chosen, planted and cared for until the vines brought forth fruit. In the Old Testament, it was Israel, as we read in Isaiah 5:1-7 (see also Jer 2:21; Hos 10:1). In the New Testament, it was the kingdom of God (Matt 21:28-46). Jesus himself is the vine, and the Father is the owner of the vineyard (John 15:1).

The first son can be likened to those in the church who give lip service to God’s law. They are law-breakers who have no desire to obey God’s Word. They openly disregard the words of Scripture. Just like the vineyard in Isaiah 5, they bear no fruits after the Father planted and cared for them. His disregard for his father’s command was such that he did not even bother to give an excuse for why he did not or cannot work. But then, lo and behold, he “changed his mind” and went to work in the vineyard.

What is so condemning of the Jews is that Jesus likens the first son to the most hated and shunned people in his day: tax collectors and prostitutes. Prostitutes obviously are called “sinners” and the Pharisees condemned Jesus for associating with them (Luke 7:39). Why are tax collectors hated? These are Jews who were employed by the Roman empire to exact taxes from the people. People naturally hate taxes, especially taxes paid to a conquering nation. And these tax collectors often extort money and overcharge the people. Matthew himself (Matt 10:3), and Zaccheus (Luk 19:8), were tax collectors. They were so despised that one who is excommunicated from the church, is considered as an unbelieving Gentile and a tax collector (Matt 18:17).

But tax collectors and “sinners” are endeared to Jesus. Tax collectors also love those who love them (Matt 5:46-47). Because of his witness of love for them, he is called by his detractors as “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt 11:19; Luke 7:34). The humble and repentant tax collector, rather than the self-righteous Pharisee, is justified (Luke 18:9-14). He told believing and repentant Zaccheus that he has been saved, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9).

Jesus, going back to John’s ministry, says that these sinners believed John’s ministry of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He condemns the Jews for rejecting John, the herald of the coming King and kingdom of heaven. Like the first son, the tax collectors and sinners changed their minds. But the chief priests and elders of Israel did not, to their condemnation.

What does this “change of mind” mean? The Greek word used here is similar to the word for “repentance.” Literally, repentance means “a change or transformation of mind.” How did the first son change his mind? Did he do it out of his own will? The Bible says that both faith and repentance are gifts of God to sinners whom he has chosen (Acts 11:18; Eph 2:8-9).

This “change of mind” also recalls Paul’s exhortation to us to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). Again, this “transformation” is being done to our minds by the Spirit, as Paul again says, “And we all… are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18). The Holy Spirit is the one who gives a new heart and new spirit (Ezk 36:26-27; HC 21). The Lord opened the heart of Lydia so she would believe in the gospel (Acts 16:14). Thus, without the work of the Spirit, there will be no faith and repentance.

The first son showed his repentance by first disobeying his father, but then going to the vineyard to work, in obedience to his father. His repentance is both negative and positive: turning away from sin, and turning towards obedience. But not so with the second son.

Obedient, Then Disobedient

The second son’s response is the complete opposite of the first son’s. He said yes, but he did not go and work in the vineyard. It seems that he really had no intention of obeying his father, but gave him only lip service. He had words, but no deeds.

This second son is a personification of hypocrites. Even his respectful address, “sir,” is just a pretense, because he did not honor his word, and did not respect his father by his disobedience. The Jewish leaders were hypocrites. They paid lip service to God’s law. They studied the law, and discussed how they could make the law stricter so they would look holier. They thought they had much knowledge and wisdom. Pretending to be wise in their additions to the law, Jesus condemned them as “blind fools” (Matt 23:17). They were proud to be called rabbis, teachers of the law. Paul’s words are so fitting for these Jewish rulers, “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor 1:20).

They obeyed the law, but only to show the people that they were spiritual and pious. Jesus condemned their hypocrisy in their public prayers, tithing and fasting. They were not done out of true faith and repentance. Their good works were not done out of thanksgiving and love for God and neighbor. It was all outward, because their hearts and minds were not changed by the Spirit.

So Jesus condemns the Jews for rejecting John’s message of repentance, in spite of their seeming obedience to God’s Word. Comparing them with the tax collectors and sinners, Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, “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” (v 32). They did not believe in the gracious message of John, and they did not believe in the effects of this grace wrought upon the people by the Spirit. And they did not believe in the gracious gospel of Christ.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ: Merely saying the right words and calling Christ, “Lord, Lord” will not entitle you to a passport in the kingdom of heaven. For a true believer, word and deed are inseparable. This is why James exhorts you to be doers of the word and not merely hearers, just as the second son was. We recite this often in our confession of sin as “things left undone.”

But in the same confession, we also repent of “things that we have done.” In this way, disobedience is active. Samuel condemned King Saul’s disobedience in performing an unlawful sacrifice, saying, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam 15:22). Doing actions that are contrary to God’s Word is as bad as not doing it. This is why on Judgment Day, there will be many who will say to Christ, “We did this and we did that in your name,” but he will answer, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” He will rebuke them, saying, “the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” “will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 7:21-23). Isaiah has a description of these people, “this people… honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me” (Isa 29:13).

Jesus came into this world to save tax collectors and sinners, and you and me are one of them. To accomplish his mission, he obeyed the will of his Father in heaven. He fulfilled all the law. He was perfectly righteous and obedient all the way to his cruel death on the cross as your Substitute sacrifice for your sins. No other human being is able and willing to do this.

So, apart from Christ and the Holy Spirit, we can never have faith and repentance. If you are like the first son, a sinner in rebellion against God, all is not lost. Pray to the Spirit to change your mind. Then your love for and obedience to God’s Word will be evidence that you did change your mind to repent and believe in Christ as your Savior and Lord. You will be doers of the Word, not because your good works will save you from sin, but because they are evidence that Christ has saved you from sin.

If you are like the second son, you too are not hopelessly lost. You might be pretending to believe and showing outwardly that you are obedient to God’s Word. But you really are only paying lip service to the Bible. Repent of your pretension and inaction. Pray to the Spirit to change your mind. Then your “good” words will be truly good, and result in good works. And you will be truly obedient to the will of your Father in heaven.

Amen.