Matthew 21:28-32 Righteousness Is Not From Words

Matthew 21:28-32

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.

When children are born to a mother and father, they become laborers to their parents. It is said before birth control was invented, parents would have many children and especially farming families to have more workers around the house and farmland. Maybe that is why the Lord Jesus uses the parable of two sons, to teach about obedience and disobedience and it is matter or the mouth or heart. . As children get older he or she wants to be more independent and do what they want and not do jobs around the home and even stay in their room away from mom and dad as much as possible. Jesus tells a story of a father asking both of his sons to go work on the family’s vineyard. Many of the families of the ancient world got income from agriculture, so it is common for a child to work with crops. One son showed an act of rebellion and refused to go work, the other said yes I will go. Jesus the Son of God knows the hearts of man, and that the lips of ours is faster than hearts. I used to say stupid things with my mouth and my father would make me say to myself, “thank you mouth for getting me into trouble. “ So the son who told his father he didn’t wanna work had a change of heart and went to some work. The second son who said “ Yes sir, I will go work,” He just never went. The truth of the matter, true love will make someone be obedient and otherwise just love themselves and only obey the personal desires they have. The whole word of if God is full of people most believe are beyond salvation and obedience. Noah the drunk (Genesis 9:20-21), Abraham the liar (Genesis 20:2), Moses the murder (Exodus 2:11-14), King David stealing a man’s wife and killing husband  ( 1 Samuel 11) , Jonah who went the opposite direction God told him to(Jonah 1), Rahab who was prostitute ( Joshua 2), Matthew a tax collector (Matthew 10:3) , Peter denied Jesus like Judah did, but repented  (John 18:27), and the list goes on and on. Dear beloved, don’t think  because you are  disrespectful to God with your words to others or yourself, that the Lord above can see your heart and that you truly want a relationship with Him. Of course the Lord wants you to praise Him with your mouth, but give Him your heart and the rest of you will come along. God bless you all, the Lord King of your heart loves you and so do I. 

Samuel J Head

Matthew 15:8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.