Advent: Week 3: Tuesday: Year C
I Reading: Zephaniah 3: 1-2. 9-13: Messianic salvation is promised
to all the poor in spirit.
Gospel: Mt. 21: 28-32: John came, but it was the sinners who
believed in him.
The Parable of Two Sons: What It Takes to Enter God’s Kingdom
What
does it take to enter God’s kingdom? Not only profession and righteousness, but
also repentance and belief. In this passage Jesus wanted to convey a critical
message to the Jewish leaders by saying a parable of two sons and asking a
question, “What do you think?” that would determine their eternal destiny. Now
we analyse the parable of two sons:
1. The Parable is simple and clear. It
concerns a man had two sons. Notes several facts.
a.
Commands
first son to go and work in his vineyard is an emphatic imperative. There is no
other alternative choice to excuse.
i.
He
says “I will not.”
ii.
He
later changes his mind and goes to work.
b.
Commands
second son.
i.
He
says, “I will, sir.”
ii.
He
never goes to work.
c.
The
first son did what his father wanted.
2. Jesus gave the point of the
parable: Sinners enter the kingdom before religionists (the self-righteous and
those who make a false profession).
i.
Jesus
identified the man and the two sons in the parables.
ii.
Jesus
identified the vineyard and work that was to be done. The vineyard is the
kingdom of God and the work is “entering the kingdom of God.”(Mt 19: 23-24).
iii.
Jesus
clearly stressed the point of the parable. “I tell you the truth.” “Sinners,
the tax collectors and prostitutes entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
iv.
Jesus
shocked his audience. He declared that people’s idea of religion is wrong.
3. The reason: Religionists do not
believe John-that Jesus is the Son of God.
a.
Yet
John was righteousness
b.
Sinners
believed John
c.
The
religionists’ problem: See changed lives but still do not repent and believe.
Thought: The great
tragedy of religionists is this: they stand aloof. They reject the counsel of
God. They do not go and work in His vineyard.
No comments:
Post a Comment