Bible Lesson: Our Lord's Parables

Our Lord's Parables:
The Two Sons

Matthew 21:28-32 KJV
[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.
[29] He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
[30] And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
[31] 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.
[32] 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 ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Matthew 21:28-32 NLT
28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained His meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.
32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

The Chief Priests and Elders had rejected Jesus.

John 5:43 KJV
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Trying to trap Him, they asked Him ...

Matthew 21:23-27 KJV
[23] And when He was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said,
By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
[24] And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
[25] The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
[26] But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
[27] And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And He said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

The Chief Priests, and Elders could not answer Him, but Jesus had a question they could answer, in the parable of the two sons.
Which son was obedient to the father? They're answer was, the first son was obedient.
And they were correct.

But then the condemnation became clear!
They were the Elders of Israel, spiritual leaders, had they in repentance and sorrow, torn their garments over their sin (rebellion), and become obedient to the voice of the Father?

And the terrible answer by their own hands was........no, they had not.
They claimed to be God's leaders, but they had not, gone out into the Father's vineyard to work.
They claimed spiritual superiority, yet they were no leaders at all, they were the blind leaders of the blind.

Matthew 15:14 KJV
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

I John 1:8-10 KJV (See also the story of the Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32)
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Those who were called, and who had refused, who repented (about face) of their sin, and who obeyed, were the true children of God.
The Publicans, tax collectors, the harlots, etc. etc...

Matthew 21:31 KJV
“...Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Warning Today:

Matthew 7:13-27 KJV
[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV
[13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Charismatic Church workers that perform exorcisms, prophecy, and do many wonderful works- WORKERS OF INIQUITY?

Yes, said Jesus, and why so? Because they are false spiritual leaders, spiritual deceivers!
False spiritual leaders, the worst of all evil things, because they lull souls to sleep in religious adoration, devoid of heaven sent repentance and obedience, salvation.

They deceive countless souls to their destruction by leading them in false dead doctrines, rituals, and religious works, that they live and teach.

False Religious Leaders, were not any thing new in our Lord's day, but unafraid, and full of the Spirit of God, our Lord called it, as it was, the work of the devil.

Luke 18:10-14 KJV
[10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

I Samuel 16:7 KJV
"...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

I Samuel 15:22 KJV
"...Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Our Lord is looking for men and women who worship and live for Him, in their hearts not at the pedestal of a cold dead marble shrine.

[24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
[25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
[26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
[27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Isaiah 55:6,7 KJV
[6] Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
[7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.