The Parable of the Two Sons is found only in Matthew 21:28-32.
The Story
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, `Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
"`I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, `I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32, New International Version).
In the 23rd verse of this chapter we see that our Lord was asked a question by His adversaries, they to find accusation against Him. Now He becomes the assailing party, and begins that series of parables, in which, as in a glass, they might see themselves. Yet they are not spoken in words of defiance, but of earnest love—if possibly He might save them from the fearful sin they were about to commit. (Trench, NOTES ON THE PARABLES OF OUR LORD, p. 67).
The chief priests and elders asked Jesus a twofold question in verse 23: "By what authority are you doing these things?" "And who gave you this authority?" Jesus had just had his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple and healed people. Children responded to Jesus’ healing people in the temple area with, "Hosanna to the Son of David." "Son of David" was a title of the Messiah. The religious leaders did not like it.
The word translated "changed his mind" in verse 29 and "repent" in verse 32 is METAMELOMAI, "regret,’which is found five times in the New Testament. The usual word for repentance is METANOEO, "change of mind," which is found 34 times in the New Testament as a verb and 24 times as a noun.
METAMELOMAI has to do with a single act whereas METANOEO has to do with a decision to accept Christ as Savior and Lord and follow God as a lifestyle. [BEACON BIBLE COMMENTARY (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press), MATTHEW, By Ralph Earle, pp. 196 ff.]. [Marvin R. Vincent, WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT, 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1887-1977), 1:116-117].
The Interpretation
In this parable, the first son represented a Jewish class of open sinners such as the tax collectors. The second son represented the Jewish religious leaders who questioned his authority. [William Barclay, DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES, MATTHEW (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), pp. 286 ff.]. Jesus’ purpose was to bring the religious leaders to repentance. Those whose sins were outward readily understood that they were sinners and listened more quickly to John the Baptist and Jesus. Those who were outwardly religious and sinful on the inside, had deluded themselves with rationalizations and established a "self-righteousness."Although this parable applied to the Jewish people in Jesus’ time, the principle applies to all of us. We must ALL repent, no matter which group of sinners we are in.
Central Truth
REJECTION OF CHRIST IS THE SUPREME TRAGEDYBUT THERE IS STILL HOPETHROUGH REPENTANCE.
Conclusion
As believers, let us labor faithfully in the vineyard of the Master:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, New International Version).
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