Moment of Meditation: Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

''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.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 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. 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. (Matthew 21:28-32)''

In this short parable, Jesus contrasts the chief priests and the elders with the tax collectors and the prostitutes. The tax collectors stole money even though God commands, "Thou shalt not steal." The prostitutes sold their bodies for money even though God commands, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Both groups did exactly what God told them not to, but Jesus says they will enter Heaven before the religious.

The religious were those who studied and enforced God's laws while not practicing them (Matthew 23:3). They wanted everyone else to believe that they were doing God's will when they refused to listen to the commands themselves.

The kingdom of God is all about faith. Working in God's vineyard is having the faith to believe He will provide for you as He did for Adam and Eve in the Garden. John came baptizing for repentance. The tax collectors and prostitutes flocked to him because they found in him forgiveness. The chief priests and elders chose to argue rather than to listen to John. No one has '''EVER''' argued someone into the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is about accepting the gift of forgiveness Christ gives you. Nothing more. Nothing less. Amen.