Matthew 21:23-32
23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
"Talk less and do more!"
Matthew's Gospel continues to use Jesus' parables as a teaching method.
In the Temple, where people are supposed to concentrate on worship and prayers, "the chief priests and the elders" approach Jesus to defy Him and question His authority to teach (v. 23).
The chief priests represent the written law of the Bible that Moses received from God. The elders represent the oral law that Moses transmitted to Aaron and the seventy elders. Both represent the religious authority that is to teach the Word and be the model of implementing it in daily life.
Jesus knows how they are teaching without practicing. In Luke 11:46, Jesus says, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."
He tells the story about the two sons and then asks them which son did the will of his father (v.31). By their answer, they judge themselves. The Prophet Nathan did the same with King David. In 2 Samuel 12:1-10, David's response is right, but by his response, he is judging himself.
The two sons in the parable dishonored their father's will, the first with his words and the second with his deeds. To honor means to respect in word and deed. We are to show gratitude to our parents. This produces blessings over the sons and daughters, Exodus 20:12. Merely saying the right words, without active obedience, doesn't obey God's commandment.
Jesus never excludes anybody, even those who exclude Him from their lives. But for those who believe in Him and accept Him as Teacher and Lord, He expects them to combine both the word and the deed, so when they pray "Your will be done" (Matthew 6:10), they mean it and they honor it.
Jesus Himself is our model of active obedience as we follow Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. There He teaches us at the crucial and ultimate moment of His earthly life when he prays, "Your will be done" in Matthew 26:42. How many times have we said yes and acted no?
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" James 2:17-18.
Today's Gospel invites us to think about real obedience to God, showing our faith BY our deeds with joy. Rejoice in the Lord!