The Parable of the Two Sons
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?
'The first,' they answered.
Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.'
Reference: Matthew 21:28-32
The Reluctant Helper
A father asked his two sons to help with the family business. The first son, who often rebelled, initially refused, but later, seeing his father's need, decided to help. The second son eagerly agreed to help but never followed through. The first son, despite his initial disobedience, pleased the father by his actions. Jesus uses this parable to show that repentance and actions are more valuable to God than words. Those who seem distant from God but later turn to Him are closer to His heart than those who claim to follow Him but do not live it out.