哪個兒子是真正地順服？
馬太福音二十一章28至32節
28又說：“一個人有兩個兒子，他來對大兒子說：‘我兒，你今天到葡萄園裡去做工。’
29他回答說：‘我不去’，以後自己懊悔，就去了。
30又來對小兒子也是這樣說。他回答說：‘父啊，我去’，他卻不去。
31你們想這兩個兒子，是哪一個遵行父命呢？”他們說：“大兒子。”耶穌說：“我實在告訴你們：稅吏和娼妓倒比你們先進 神的國。
32因為約翰遵著義路到你們這裡來，你們卻不信他；稅吏和娼妓倒信他。你們看見了，後來還是不懊悔去信他。
信息分享
這個簡短的比喻，是主耶穌在世事奉最後一週時，用來教訓眾人的眾多比喻中的一個。當時的祭司長和民間長老不斷質疑耶穌的權柄。反對耶穌的勢力愈來愈大。而耶穌的教訓也變得愈來愈針對他們。
大兒子的反應，究竟有何喻意呢？基督在第31節指出，那些最初公然拒絕接受神的旨意和話語的罪人（像大兒子一樣），後來聽了施洗約翰和基督本人的講道，便願意悔改回轉。如今，他們將看見慈愛的父神張開熱情的雙臂來歡迎他們回家。
但那個小兒子呢？他只是表面上答應了，卻沒有實質遵從。法利賽人正是這樣。表面上，他們畢恭畢敬地謹守神的命令，但實質上卻沒有真正實行出來。他們自言熟悉神的話語，但實質上卻是陽奉陰違。
究竟父親吩咐兩名兒子作甚麼呢？我們可以理解為：「兒子，我的心意是要你們做這事。我希望你們聽從我的吩咐，照我說的話去做。」父親吩咐兒子去做的事，絕非無理的要求。神絕對不會向我們發出無理的要求。我們若是神的兒子，祂就當然期望我們會完全順服祂。
最後，我們必須緊記雅各的提醒：要行道，不要單單聽道！
WHICH SON REALLY OBEYED?
Matthew 21 :28-32
28 “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.’
29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to Him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Message
This short parable comes in a group given in the last week of Christ's earthly ministry. His authority was being questioned. Opposition was growing stronger. His words if anything were becoming more pointed.
What is the application of the first son's actions? Christ said (v.31) that outright sinners who had refused to recognise the will and word of God now were repenting (like the first son). They had heard John the Baptist's preaching and Christ's too and were turning away from their disobedience and sin. Now they were finding a warm welcome in the arms of a loving forgiving Father, God.
But what about the second son? He agreed on the surface but had no intention of obeying. That was what the Pharisees were doing. Outwardly they were making a big show of obeying God, but actually they did not practice what they preached. They rejected the very word of God which they said they knew so much about.
What was the command both sons received? It could be paraphrased, 'Son, here is my will for you. I want you to obey it and do exactly what I am asking you'. That is not an unreasonable demand. God's will never is. If we are the sons of God, the Father should be able to expect our complete obedience.
What did James say - Be doers of the word and not hearers only.