When people make a list of good and positive qualities that they like to see in others, possibly when considering a spouse, a friend, or an employee, we often see the quality of integrity listed. One sign of a person with integrity is, not only are they honest, but they will keep their word. If they told you that they would do something, then they did what they said they would. A person with integrity’s word is gold. We can trust and rely on them. Our Gospel reading for this week highlights a short parable that Jesus told, a parable that not only speaks about keeping one’s word, but also highlights following the Lord.
As our Scripture opens, the Lord Jesus told a very brief parable. In the parable we read of a man who had two sons. The father had some work that needed to be done in his vineyard, and so he asked the first son to go work out in the vineyard that day. That son sure didn’t feel like spending his day working in the vineyard. There were so many other, more pleasant ways which he had in mind to spend his day doing. So this son told his father no, he wasn’t going to do as he was asked. However, a little later he regretted being so boldly disobedient to his father, and he turned around and went out into the vineyard to do the work asked of him (vs. 28-29).
After his wishes were rejected by his first son, the father then went to his second son and made the same request. Like a good and obedient son, this one told his father that he would do as his father asked. However, after he agreed to go, he then regretted giving his word. Perhaps something so much more appealing than spending a day working in the vineyard came up. So off that son went to do what he wanted to do, which certainly wasn’t doing manual labor in the vineyard (vs. 30).
The parables that Jesus told the crowds throughout His ministry were not told just to entertain. Each of them had a spiritual meaning and message that the people were to take away and learn from. Though this was a brief parable, it also had a lesson. Jesus asked the Pharisees and crowds a question, which was which of the sons were obedient to the father (vs. 31). Was it the son who had refused, but ended up going out and working? Or was it the son who said he would go, but didn’t? Naturally they answered that it was the first son, the one who initially had said no, but later did obey. Jesus then responded with some words that shocked most of His listeners, and angered some, especially the Pharisees. Jesus told them that the tax collectors and harlots will enter into the Kingdom of God before all the Pharisees and hypocritically religious folks. That first group had repented and turned to God after they heard John the Baptist’s preaching and responded. However, the Pharisees and other seemingly religious folk had also heard the prophet preach, but had rejected him and his message (vs 31-32).
The idea that tax collectors and harlots would enter the Kingdom before the outwardly religious hypocrites, especially the Pharisees, was frequently spoken of by Jesus, and this infuriated the religious leaders. Tax collectors were a despised group of people. In the New Testament days the Jewish people looked on them as traitors and collaborators with the enemy regime, as they worked for the Roman Empire. Frequently the tax collectors would take more money than was asked for by the government, and they would pocket everything extra after the tax amount was turned in. Because of both of these reasons, tax collectors were hated and looked upon as being sinners. Of course, prostitutes were considered one of the worst classes of sinners. And yet these despised people had found salvation, while the self-righteous religious leaders had not.
The son who said that he would obey, and then didn’t, represented the nation of Israel. They said they wanted to do God’s will, but they constantly disobeyed, even turning to false gods. They proclaimed their allegiance to God and His Word, but in reality had no allegiance at all. The one son who at first refused, and then turned back and obeyed represents those who may have lived a sinful life, making no pretense of religion or salvation, but then one day they hear and respond to God’s Word. They respond to the Lord Jesus in genuine repentance and salvation.
As the old saying goes, “actions speak louder than words”. The one son said “yes”, but his actions said “no”. The other said “no”, but his actions later said “yes”. How many times do we tell the Lord that we will obey Him, but then end up doing our own will? A person of integrity will keep his word, not just to family and friends, but especially to the Lord. We should never pretend to obey God when our hearts are far from Him. Our actions should match our words. Doing is more important than saying!
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