The Parable of the Two Sons: The U-Turn That Changes Everything

“God, make me who you want me to be.”

Have you ever prayed that prayer? If not, why not? What do you think would happen if you did? Does that prayer scare you?

Jesus told an important parable in Matthew 21. Before we look at it, let’s understand the context. It’s Tuesday of Holy Week. The previous Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). He cleansed the temple on Monday (Matthew 21:12-13). Now, it’s Tuesday, three days before the crucifixion, and he’s back teaching in the temple.

The religious leaders ask Jesus whose authority lets him do all the things he’s done lately: not opposing the cries of “Hosanna” when he entered the city, as well as cleansing the temple and healing and teaching there. If Jesus says he has no authority to do these things, they can arrest him for damage to the temple. If he claims his authority is from God, they can arrest him for falsely claiming authority. It’s a trap.

And, once again, Jesus sees right through it. So instead of answering them, he says, “I’ll answer your question if you answer mine: the baptizing John the Baptist did, was it from heaven or from men?” We read that and think, “What does that have to do with anything?” But keep reading; Jesus knows what he’s doing.

John the Baptist had come, pointing people to Jesus, the Messiah, and he had a sizable following. The religious leaders know that if they reply that John got his authority from God, they’ll be admitting that Jesus’ authority also came from God, because John pointed people to Jesus.

But if they say John’s authority came from men, it might start a riot. Jesus has driven them into a corner. So they say, “We don’t know.” What a copout! And Jesus responds, “Then I won’t give you an answer either.” But by the whole conversation, Jesus is very clear – his authority came from heaven.

Then Jesus tells the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32). And in it, he answers the leaders’ question, “By what authority are you doing all these things?” Here’s the story:

Early one morning at the farmhouse, the dad said to his oldest son, “Go work the back 40 today.” And the son replied, “In this heat? No way,” and he headed to town for a day of fun. Then the dad asked his other son to do the work, and that son said, “Sure!” and got up and headed out to the vineyard.

Then the first son had a change of heart. Maybe he started thinking about all the things his dad had done for him, and maybe he felt a little guilty. For whatever reason, he made a U-turn and went and worked as his father had asked.

The second son also had a change of heart; he also made a U-turn. He never went to the vineyard at all. He was all talk, full of, well, let’s just say baloney.

Then Jesus asks the religious leaders, “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They obviously had only one choice, so they replied, “The first.” Exactly. The son who said he wouldn’t work but did is the one who ultimately obeyed his dad. By their answer, the leaders condemn themselves.

Then Jesus looks right in their eyes, his words like a dagger:

“…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 21:31-32).

In his answer, Jesus goes right back to John the Baptist. When John preached, the tax collectors and prostitutes, the greatest of sinners, who had said “I will not” to God’s commands, heard John’s call to repent and be righteous, and they did. Like the first son, they “changed their minds.”

The religious leaders, though, didn’t respond to John’s message. Even after they saw the radical change in the lives of the tax collectors and prostitutes, they still didn’t believe. They talked the talk, outwardly behaving as if they were saying yes to God. But inwardly, they had rejected God because they refused to listen to John and, thus, they rejected Jesus. If only they had believed John, they would have believed Jesus. But they didn’t.

The fact that these sinners can be in the kingdom of God validates John’s ministry as coming from God, and since his job was to point to Jesus as the Messiah, it also validates the divine authority of Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah, and his authority comes from heaven, thus answering the question in verse 23.

The word in verse 29 for “changed his mind” is metamelomai, which means to change one’s mind with regret. In verse 32, “change your minds” is the same word. The NIV interprets it as “repent.” Jesus is making an obvious comparison here. The sinners heard John’s message and, like the first son, repented. The leaders, who heard the same message, refused to repent. They were the disobedient son in the story.

The tax collectors and prostitutes made a U-turn and obeyed. The religious leaders, who looked down on those very sinners with such disdain, didn’t make a U-turn; they never repented.

This is an amazing story in the life of Jesus. There’s a question in it, though, that applies to us today:

“Have you made a U-turn?”

If you don’t consider yourself to be a believer, why not do that today? Admit to God that you’ve sinned, believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins, ask him for forgiveness, and choose to give your life to him. If you do this, you will be his child forever!

If you’re not sure how to begin, you can use a simple prayer like this:

“God, I admit that I’ve sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I ask you to forgive me, and I commit my life to you. Please come into my life, make me your child, and lead me from this day forward. Amen.”

If you’ve already done this, you’re his child. You have all of Jesus. But does he have all of you? Do you have the courage to ask him to make you all he wants you to be? Examine yourself, and ask God to show you where you’re outwardly saying “yes” to God, but actually saying “no.” Where is it that you’re talking the talk with no intention of obeying? In what ways are you like the second son, outwardly holy but inwardly rebellious?

Ask yourself these questions:

– Are there habits, attitudes, or relationships where I am holding back from surrendering to God?

– When did I last sense God asking me to do something I resisted or ignored?

– In what areas am I quick to say “yes” to God with my words, but slow to follow through with my actions?

Spend some time with these questions and listen for his leading.

I urge you to be like the first son. In all the ways you’re saying no to God, make a U-turn and say yes to him. Give every part of your life to him. Pray for him to show you any disobedience. Ask him to lead you in full obedience in every part of your life.

That’s when God can shape you into all he wants you to be.