What was the Parable of the Two Sons?

from the old testament

• The Parable of the Two Sons is not found in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

• Contextually, this parable follows the chief priests and the elders questioning His authority to cleanse the temple (Matthew 21:23; cf. Matthew 21:12–17). Before answering, Jesus asked whether John the Baptist’s baptism was from heaven or of man (Matthew 21:25a). The leaders refused to answer, knowing that either way, they would be in trouble—if they said from heaven, then Jesus would ask why they didn’t obey him, but if they said from man, then the people would hate them (Matthew 21:25b–26). Because they refused to answer, Jesus refused to tell them where He got His authority (Matthew 21:27).
• This leads into a short parable in Matthew 21:28–32. Jesus used it to illustrate two different types of responses to God’s command to repent and believe in His Son. It begins with an earthly father asking his two sons to work in the family vineyard.
• The first son directly refused his father’s command, yet acquiesced and worked in the vineyard (Matthew 21:29). This son represented those whom the Jewish leaders considered sinners: the tax collectors and prostitutes (Matthew 21:31). Just as the son initially refused to obey but later did, the “sinners” initially refused to obey God, but when they heard John the Baptist’s warning, they believed. Jesus said that, though they originally refused, their later obedience is why they would enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
• The second son immediately said he would go, yet he never actually did (Matthew 21:30). This son represented the Jewish leaders who considered themselves righteous (cf. Luke 18:11–12). Yet, when John the Baptist came, they refused to repent (cf. Matthew 3:7–10), not heeding his warning. Jesus said that, though they originally acted as if they were obeying God, they refused to do so not only when they heard John the Baptist but even when they saw Jesus (Matthew 21:32). That was why even “sinners” entered the Kingdom of Heaven ahead of the “righteous” Jewish leaders.

implications for today

Jesus’ parable strikes at the heart of the self-righteous hypocrite! The Jewish leaders considered themselves the crème de la crème, the most righteous of all. Yet when John the Baptist preached repentance, and when they saw Jesus’ miracles, they rejected it all. They believed they didn’t need repentance or Jesus. They thought they had righteousness within themselves.

But lest we scoff at them, the heart of self-righteousness beats in all of us. Proverbs warns that we all think our way is right (Proverbs 14:12). Paul also warned against thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3). These warnings exist because pride is a common sin. We judge others against ourselves and become conceited, tempted to think that because we appear better, we have somehow earned our way into God’s heart.

But what the Jewish leaders missed, and what we are tempted to miss, is that God doesn’t want a bunch of self-righteous people. He sees us all as sinful (Romans 3:23). What He wants are those with contrite, humble hearts (Isaiah 66:2). Jesus used the parable to show that the ones society considered the worst sinners understood their sinfulness. Therefore, when John the Baptist came, they listened to his warning and repented.

Let us also hear Scripture’s warning. In the end, God won’t ask us what we did to earn salvation before letting us into heaven. He will open books that record our every sin (Revelation 20:12a), and then another that shows who was covered by Jesus’ blood (Revelation 20:12b). Only those found in that latter book will avoid God’s eternal wrath. Turn now to Jesus by repenting of your sin and believing in Him!