Parable of Two Sons in Matthew 21
The Parable of the Two Sons, found in Matthew 21:28-32, is one of several parables Jesus tells in the temple courts shortly before his crucifixion. The passage begins with Jesus asking, "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard’" [1]. This parable is immediately preceded by a confrontation where the chief priests and elders question Jesus' authority, to which Jesus responds with a counter-question about John the Baptist's authority [5, 7].
In the parable, a father asks his two sons to work in his vineyard. The first son initially refuses but later repents and goes. The second son says, "I go, sir," but does not go [3]. Jesus then asks his audience which of the two sons did the will of their father. The chief priests and elders correctly identify the first son. Jesus then declares that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before them, because they believed John the Baptist's message, while the religious leaders did not [3].
Interpreters understand the "certain man" in the parable to represent God [2]. The vineyard symbolizes the sphere of God's work, and "true religion is a practical thing, a 'bringing forth fruit unto God'" [6]. John Gill suggests the parable's design is to expose the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees, who pretended to righteousness but did not practice it, and to rebuke them for rejecting John's ministry [2]. The first son, who initially refused but later obeyed, represents those who were considered sinners (like tax collectors and prostitutes) but repented and believed. The second son, who verbally assented but failed to act, represents the religious leaders who professed obedience but ultimately rejected God's messengers and will [2].
The chief priests and Pharisees understood that Jesus was speaking about them through this parable, as well as the subsequent Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen [4]. Augustine notes that Matthew's account of this parable is particularly focused on the reply made by those to whom it was spoken [3]. The parable highlights the importance of genuine obedience over mere verbal profession, contrasting outward appearance with inward disposition and action [2].
Sources
- Matthew “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ -- Matthew 21:28”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 21:28: But what think you?.... See Gill on Mat 18:12. a certain man had two sons. This is a parable; the design of which is to show the hypocrisy and deceit of the Scribes and Pharisees, in pretending to works of righteousness, and not doing them; and to reprove them for their disbelief and rejection of John's ministry; and to make it appear, that the worst of sinners in the Jewish nation were preferable to them; and that many of them were, and would be, happy, when they would be miserable. By the "certain man", in the parable, God is designed; who, though he is not a ma”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — REFERENCE SPECIALLY TO THE REPLY MADE BY THE PERSONS TO WHOM THAT PARABLE WAS SPOKEN, IN RELATING WHICH MATTHEW SEEMS TO DIFFER SOMEWHAT FROM THE OTHERS. (part 1): 133. Matthew goes on thus: "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. But 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;" and so on, down to the words, "And whosoever shall fall upon this”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 21:45: And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables--referring to that of the Two Sons and this one of the Wicked Husbandmen. they perceived that he spake of them.”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 21 (introduction): THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS QUESTIONED AND THE REPLY--THE PARABLES OF THE TWO SONS, AND OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN. ( = Mark 11:27-12:12; Luke 20:1-19). (Mat. 21:23-46) By what authority doest thou these things!--referring particularly to the expulsion of the buyers and sellers from the temple, and who gave thee this authority?”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 21:28: But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard--for true religion is a practical thing, a "bringing forth fruit unto God."”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 21:27: And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell--Evidently their difficulty was, how to answer, so as neither to shake their determination to reject the claims of Christ nor damage their reputation with the people. For the truth itself they cared nothing whatever. Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things--What composure and dignity of wisdom does our Lord here display, as He turns their question upon themselves, and, while revealing His knowledge of their hypocrisy, closes their mouths! Taking advantage of the surprise, silence, and”