Scriptures Weekly 73 - Jesus Authority Questioned

This parable being shared by Jesus is spoken to the Jewish religious leaders which illustrates their rejection of His authority, and pronounces judgment on Israel for their rejection of their Messiah. In the Parable of the Two Sons, the leaders of Israel are the second son who claimed obedience, but did not do the will of the Father. As you read the accounting below, envision the scorn and outright rejection of Jesus as the Messiah to the Jews, and of the world today!


Matthew 21:23-32,

23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

24 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: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned 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 men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”

And He (Jesus) said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “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.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 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. 32 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.

Parables which give reproof, speak plainly to the offenders, and judge them out of their own mouths. The parable of the two sons sent to work in the vineyard, is to show that those who knew not John’s baptism to be of God, were shamed by those who knew it, and owned it. The whole human race are like children whom the Lord has brought up, but they have rebelled against him, only some are more plausible in their disobedience than others. And it often happens, that the daring rebel is brought to repentance and becomes the Lord’s servant, while the formalist grows hardened in pride and enmity. (Mt 21:33-46)

The parable of the Two Sons is actually about questioning doing the will of the Father (Jesus authority) by disobedience. One needs to read the full context beginning with verse 23 to see the mind of Christ flow into the verses beginning at verse 28. Baptism, is it from heaven or from men? That’s the point Jesus first shares, then he goes into obeying Him or not. The tax collectors and harlots Jesus is talking about are ones that repented and obeyed Johns teaching and were baptized out of repentance for the remission of sins. They are in the kingdom continuing the process of repenting (as us) of their prior sinful lifestyle to one day being free of their particular sin(s). They aren’t just non-repentant haters of God as we all once were at one time in our lives. They are headed for Paradise because they obeyed the gospel of John or Jesus wouldn’t have said it so. The following lesson outline explains it pretty right on.

1. Jesus often responded to questions from His disciples with a parable.

a. Cf. “The Unmerciful Servant” (Mt 18:21-35), in reply to a question about forgiveness.

b. Cf. “The Laborers In The Vineyard” (Mt 20:1-16), in reply to a question about what disciples would receive who have given up all to follow Jesus.

2. He also used parables in replying to some of the challenges by those who opposed Him.

a. During His final week in Jerusalem, He was challenged by religious leaders – Mt 21:23-27.

b. In response, He told three parables…

1) “The Two Sons” – Mt 21:28-32.

2) “The Wicked Vinedressers” – Mt 21:33-46.

3) “The Wedding Feast” – Mt 22:1-14.

I. THE PARABLE OF THE SONS AND ITS EXPLANATION

A. THE PARABLE ITSELF IS QUITE SIMPLE…

1. It is an account of a man with two sons and a vineyard.

2. The father tells his two sons to work in the vineyard.

a. The first son says he won’t go, but later regretted it and went.

b. The second son said he would, but did not actually go.

B. JESUS EXPLAINS THE PARABLE…

1. He begins with a question: “Who of the two did the will of his father?”

2. The answer is obvious, and the religious leaders reply “The first”

3. Jesus’ reply to the religious leaders is then very direct.

a. “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.”

b. “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.”

4. Jesus was applying this parable to the religious leaders of His day.

a. They were like the second son, who said he would go, but didn’t.

b. Whereas those tax collectors and harlots who repented at the preaching of John were like the first son, who first said no, but then went.

5. It must have been a shock to hear Jesus tell them that those despised by the Jews would enter the kingdom of God before their religious leaders!

6. But as Luke records in his gospel…

a. The tax collectors (and others) who accepted John’s baptism “justified God”

b. Whereas those religious leaders who were not baptized “rejected the counsel of God for themselves” – Lk 7:29-30.

II. APPLYING THE PARABLE TODAY

A. THE MAIN POINT OF THE PARABLE…

1. Is it not that we must be “doers” and not “sayers”?

2. As Hendriksen says in his commentary: “That lesson is, of course, this: the doing of the will of God is the one thing needful.”

3. Jesus emphasized this truth on other occasions as well:

a. In His Sermon on the Mount – Mt 7:21-27.

b. In giving The Great Commission before His ascension to heaven – Mt 28:20.

4. As John Stott wrote: “Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured in terms of obedience.” (Authentic Christianity)

B. THIS LESSON IS ONE SORELY NEEDED TODAY…

1. The doctrines of “cheap grace” and “easy believism” have created a generation of “sayers” and not “doers”
a. Many profess Jesus as Lord, but then don’t do what He says – cf. Lk 6:46.

b. They are like the second son, who says he will do the father’s will, but doesn’t.

2. Misunderstanding the doctrine of “salvation by grace through faith”, many people have concluded that requiring obedience to God’s command is “legalism” or “salvation by works of merit”

a. Yet nothing could be further from the truth!

b. Keeping the commandments of God is essential to salvation – Mt 7:21-23; 28:20; Jn 14:15,21,23; 15:10,14; 1Cor 7:19;1Jn 2:3-4.

3. What we must remember is this…

a. When we keep God’s commandments, we in no way earn or merit salvation.

b. We simply do that which is our duty to do, and always remain “unprofitable servants” saved by grace – cf. Lk 17:10; Tit 3:4-7.

c. Yet, we still “should be careful to maintain good works”! – Tit 3:1,8,14.

CONCLUSION

1. Remember that it was the “religious leaders” in Jesus’ day…
a. Who “rejected the counsel of God for themselves” in not accepting John’s teaching for the need for repentance and baptism.

b. Who likely believed that they had good “theological grounds” for not heeding the simple commands of God given through His preachers.

2. In similar fashion, many “religious leaders” of our day…

a. Reject the clear teaching of Christ and His apostles concerning the commands to repent and be baptized – cf. Mk 16:15-16; Acts 2:38.

b. They reject the “counsel of God for themselves” based upon “theological grounds” – When the common man who reads without preconceived notions has no problem understanding what the Scriptures teach on the subject.

3. Could it be that today there are many people (even “tax collectors” and “harlots”) who will enter the kingdom of God before many religious people do?

Blessings All…