Which Son Did the Father's Will? - Matthew 21:31

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus asked the chief priests and the elders of Jerusalem, “what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not” and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-one of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus asked, “which of the two did the will of his father?” where we read:

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

The verse reads, “Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first.” Matthew began with the word, “whether of them twain” which means “which one of the two sons” “did the will” or “performed, produced, did well and acted rightly according to the desire” “of the father” which means “pertaining to the father of the two sons”? “They say unto him” or “the chief priest and elders in Jerusalem responded and answered Jesus”, “The first” which refers to “the first son”. Matthew shared how Jesus questioned the “religious leaders” as to which of the “two sons” actually “performed” the father's “will”, and the “religious leaders” answered “the first son”.

The verse goes on to say, “Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew continued with the words, “Jesus said unto them” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation uttered, declared and proclaimed to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem”, “verily” or “surely and truly” “I say unto you” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaim to the religious leader”, “that the publicans” or “the tax collectors and gatherers” “and the harlots” which refers to “and the women who sell their bodies for sexual uses or prostitutes” “go into the kingdom” or “proceed and make entrance into the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “before you” or “in advance of, preceding and previous to the religious leaders in Jerusalem”. Matthew wrote how Jesus told the “chief priests and religious leaders” the “tax collectors and prostitutes” would make it into God's Kingdom before they did.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus used this story to tell the “religious leaders” in Jerusalem how there would be “sinners” who would make it into God's Kingdom before they did. The “chief priests and elders in Jerusalem” were like the second son who gave verbal assent to his father, but avoided actually “doing” what his father asked. The “tax collectors and prostitutes” to which Jesus referred were like the first son who in the beginning rejected his father, but later repented and went to work in his vineyard. This idea is “doing the will of his father”, and his actions made him an obedient son. Many people give “verbal” assent to Jesus being the “Lord”, however, their lives do not reflect their proclamations. Those who are wise shall receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” not only with words, but also with “deeds” that demonstrate their statements.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus said, “John came unto you in the way of righteousness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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