“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in the vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go Sir: and went not.

“Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The First. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you. That the publicans and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” -Matthew 21:28-32.

The Great Teacher in two parables portrays the mistake made by the religionists of his day. The understanding of these parables gives a clearer insight into the cause which led to the rejection of Israel for a time from divine favor. Incidentally, too, we are to remember that nominal fleshly Israel was a prototype of nominal Christendom. Hence we may look for somewhat similar conditions and dealings now in the “harvest time” of this Christian age.

To get the force of the Lord’s teachings here and everywhere it is necessary to remember that the Jewish people had been promised the Kingdom of God, of which David’s kingdom was a type on a small scale. For centuries they had been expecting a great King, Messiah, whose coming would exalt them and bring them into prominence as God’s kingdom. John the Baptist, when he came to introduce Messiah, told the Jews that unless they would repent and come back, to the extent of their ability, into harmony with God and the Law they need not expect to share in the Messianic kingdom. Jesus told the people that unless their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, they should in no wise enter into or become members of the long-waited-for kingdom.-Matthew 5:20. The two parables of this study illustrate what stood in the way of the majority.

Work Today in Mv Vineyard

The Jewish people professed to be God’s people, willing to do him service. They were treated, not as mere slaves, but rather like sons. All were told to go and work in God’s vineyard; but they divided into two classes, represented by the two sons, in our first parable. One of these sons represented the outwardly religious, pious, who said, Yes, we will serve God. However, they did not really seek the divine service, but rather the service of their sects and parties and their own personal aims, honor, influence, and preferment. The other class of Israelites, represented by the other son of the parable, made no pretense of serving God, and were branded as publicans, sinners, harlots. Nevertheless, when Jesus appeared, when John’s message went forth, and afterwards the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, these same publicans, sinners, harlots, were the ones ready to receive him, while the religious, finding that his message was in conflict with their teachings, repudiated him. Thus one of the charges against Jesus was, “He receiveth publicans and sinners and eateth with them.” R 4678:2 (1910)