Matthew 21:28-32
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but 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, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go 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 the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
God is more interested in our actions than in our words. In this parable of the two sons, we are presented with a contrast between one son who said the wrong thing but did the right thing, and another son who said the right thing but did the wrong thing. The father is pleased with the son who did the right thing, not the one who talked a good game. This should be a warning to us who profess to following God with our mouths but secretly act as if God doesn't exist. God hates hypocrisy. On the other hand, this is good news for those with sinful pasts, for even "the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God" (verse 31). The question is not what we said in the past, but will we follow God now?
Dear God, may my actions match my public declarations.
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but 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, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go 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 the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
God is more interested in our actions than in our words. In this parable of the two sons, we are presented with a contrast between one son who said the wrong thing but did the right thing, and another son who said the right thing but did the wrong thing. The father is pleased with the son who did the right thing, not the one who talked a good game. This should be a warning to us who profess to following God with our mouths but secretly act as if God doesn't exist. God hates hypocrisy. On the other hand, this is good news for those with sinful pasts, for even "the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God" (verse 31). The question is not what we said in the past, but will we follow God now?
Dear God, may my actions match my public declarations.