The Parable of the Two Sons

Today's Reflections

                          

 

The Parable of the Two Sons

Mt 21:28-32

[Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people,] ²⁸“What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. ³⁰The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. ³¹Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. ³²When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

DOING THE HEAVENLY FATHER'S WILL. In Middle Eastern culture like that of people in Jesus’ time, honor is of paramount value. Honor is the public acknowledgement of a person’s claim. On the other hand, shame is something that must be avoided.

In the context of this culture, the son who says “Yes, sir” when asked to go and work in the vineyard is the one who behaves properly, a good son. Remember that the dialogue takes place in public, within the view and earshot of the villagers. Both father and son gain respectability by the response. Never mind if the “Yes-son” will never go; it is unlikely that the neighbors would check the subsequent behavior of the two sons.

The other son who says, “I will not,” responds shamefully and publicly humiliates his father. The villagers will immediately say that the son is no good, and will deny the father’s claim to honor.

Notice that what Jesus asks about in the parable is not which of the sons behaved honorably, but: “Which of the two did his father’s will?” In the kingdom of God, this is what really counts.

Jesus then points out that tax collectors and prostitutes rank with the son who initially says “No,” but eventually does his father’s will. They did the “Father’s will” by hearkening to John the Baptist’s call to repentance. On the other hand, Jesus’ temple opponents are like the “Yes son.” They publicly honor God but do not do what pleases him. They did not believe John the Baptist, even claiming that he was a demoniac. They questioned his authority to baptize. They did not honor God who sent John to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

For people not strictly bound by a culture of honor and shame, this is the challenge of Jesus: “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one” (Mt 5:37).