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The Parable
Of The
Two Sons
Matthew
21:28-32
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
Setting
 In Jerusalem on Tuesday
 During the last week of Jesus’ earthly life
 It was His final day of public teaching
 His “triumphant entry” was 2 days prior
Mt 21:1-11 Lk 19:39
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
Setting
 In Jerusalem on Tuesday
 On Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple
Mt 21:12-13
 Indignant, the Jews demanded Jesus
produce the “authority” by which He was
acting Mt 21:23
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
Setting
 In Jerusalem on Tuesday
 Jesus agrees to answer their question if
they will answer His question re: the
baptism of John Mt 21:24-27
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
Setting
 The demand “By what authority…”
clearly revealed the Jews’ sinister plot
 Jesus’ actions on Monday stung them
 On Tuesday, they came at Him in waves
 It didn’t matter how He answered…they
were going to kill Him
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
Setting
 The demand “By what authority…”
clearly revealed the Jews’ sinister plot
 What they wanted first was to discredit
Him publicly
 Their intentions the previous Friday in
Bethany show their plan Jn 12:9-11
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Parable
 A man wanted 2 sons to work vv. 28-30
 He tells the 1st son “Go work”
 The son says “I will” but doesn’t go
 He tells the 2nd son the same thing
 The son says “I will not” but later regrets
his disobedience, repents, & goes
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Parable
 Jesus asked the Jews which son did the
will of his father v. 31a
 To their own injury, the Jews answered
correctly v. 31b
 One can almost image how begrudgingly
they answered this question
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Parable
 These Jews had already refused to
answer Jesus’ question vv. 25-27
 Even though their insincerity made them
unworthy of answering, Jesus was not
through with them
 Thus, He told this parable
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Parable
 Jesus will now bring the Jews’ answer
full circle vv. 31c-32
 They have condemned themselves
 Those they despised (tax collectors,
harlots) will get into the kingdom of God
ahead of them
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Parable
 Jesus will now bring the Jews’ answer
full circle vv. 31c-32
 John came…“sinners” heard his
preaching, believed, and repented
 These Jews did not believe John…they
even slandered him Mt 11:18
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Parable
 Jesus will now bring the Jews’ answer
full circle vv. 31c-32
 Even after witnessing the repentance of
“sinners,” these Jews still would not
show remorse at their rejection of John’s
preaching
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Application
 Identifying each son
 Son # 1 (He said he would go, but didn’t)
 The Jews (scribes, Pharisees)
 All they ever did was for public show
 Hypocrisy, pretense Mt 15:7-9 23:2-36
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Application
 Identifying each son
 Son # 2 (He said he wouldn’t go, but did)
 The “sinners” (tax collectors, harlots)
 Their lives reflected their disobedience
 Yet, they considered John’s & Jesus’
preaching…repented, and obeyed
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Application
 This parable was told to expose the
hypocrisy of the Jews vv. 23-27
 Remember…they had “demanded” the
authority by which Jesus acted
 They had refused to answer His question
re: John’s baptism
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Application
 This parable was told to expose the
hypocrisy of the Jews vv. 23-27
 When they did answer the question from
this parable, Jesus applied their reply
back to their rejection of John, his
preaching, and his baptism v. 32
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Lesson
 The main idea = OBEDIENCE
 God is gracious to those who previously
have disobeyed, but who afterwards
listen to His word, consider their
rejection, and repent
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Lesson
 The main idea = OBEDIENCE
 God has no patience for those whose
religion is nothing but empty ritualistic
promises that never intend to be honored,
and who do what they do religiously only
to be seen by others
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Lesson
 The main idea = OBEDIENCE
 Which son am I?
 Am I only “talking the game?”
 Am I remorseful of my disobedience and
willing to change my sinful ways?
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Lesson
 Some modern-day applications…
 What of Christians who faithfully attend,
sing, pray, contribute, commune, etc. but
whose personal lives do not reflect the
N.T. teachings of Christ?
 WHICH SON?
The Two Sons
Matt 21:28-32
The Lesson
 Some modern-day applications…
 What of Christians who point to the
Scripture re: moral & spiritual obligations,
yet whose personal lives do not reflect
those same teachings?
 WHICH SON?
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