What does the second son's response teach about true repentance and action? Setting the Scene in Matthew 21:30 • Jesus is confronting the religious leaders in the temple courts. • He tells of a father asking two sons to work in his vineyard. • The second son replies: “Then the man went to the second son and told him the same. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go.” (Matthew 21:30) The Second Son’s Words: A Polished Promise • Respectful address — “Sir.” • Quick affirmation — “I will.” • No follow-through — “But he did not go.” • Outward compliance masks inward rebellion. True Repentance: Why Words Alone Fall Short • Repentance is a change of heart that produces a change of direction (Acts 26:20). • Empty words deceive others and ourselves (James 1:22). • God looks beyond polite speech to the obedience that should follow (1 Samuel 15:22). Action: The Litmus Test of Genuine Change • Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). • “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) • A true son reflects the Father’s will through deeds, not mere declarations (John 14:15). Warnings Against Empty Profession • 1 John 2:4 — Claiming knowledge of God while ignoring His commands brands one “a liar.” • Titus 1:16 — “They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.” • Matthew 23:27 — Whitewashed tombs: attractive outside, dead inside. Marks of Authentic Repentance and Obedience • Quickness to act, not to promise (Proverbs 14:23). • Persistence: doing the Father’s will even when unnoticed (Colossians 3:23). • Humility: admitting past reluctance and turning to obey (seen in the first son of the parable). Living It Out Today • Examine our commitments: Do our calendars match our confessions? • Replace polite refusals or hollow vows with responsive, timely obedience. • Seek the Spirit’s power to align desires with deeds (Philippians 2:13). |
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