Friday, May 1, 2015

The parable of the two sons, hope for the Pharisees


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. (Matt 21:28-32)

This sounds like Jesus is really coming down hard on the scribes and Pharisees, but there’s a little thing there that Jesus says that shows He still holds out hope for them: “the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Jesus held out hope that the Pharisees would ultimately choose to repent, even if others responded faster than them.  It was as though He said, “You think you’re there, but you’re not yet, and there is still a chance for you.”  Of course, if they ever got there, it would be contingent upon their belief in Christ, and realization of their sinful state and need for Christ.  That was their sticky point.

Today let’s choose to seek the Lord early and repent early and rely on Christ for strength early.  Let’s not procrastinate our repentance or exercising our faith.

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