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The Parable of the Two Sons is a story Jesus told to teach about true obedience. In this story, a man with two sons tells them both to work in the vineyard. The first son refused to go but later changed his mind and went, while the second son promised to go but did not.
Through this parable, Jesus compared the first son to the great sinners of society who repented through the divine message, believing and turning away from their failures. The second son was compared to the religious leaders of the time who appeared pious but did not truly fulfill the will of the Father—lacking both faith and repentance for their sins.
Through this interesting reversal, we learn that God calls us to true repentance and to do what He asks. Christ expects us to turn to Him, seeking His path of righteousness. More than a religion of appearances, our faith in God must be sincere, accompanied by practical obedience, demonstrating alignment with the Father’s will.
The Parable of the Two Sons
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.
- Matthew 21:28-32
In this story, Jesus teaches that God expects practical actions from His children that demonstrate and prove their faith, repentance, and obedience. The Lord calls different people to His path of righteousness. Many will respond, whether or not they fulfill the Father's command.
Some initially refuse, denying the command of God, but they repent and obey. Others respond affirmatively, but merely with words, and end up living lives of selfishness and disobedience, ultimately doing nothing they promised.
Biblical Explanation of the Parable of the Two Sons
In this parable, a father asked his two sons to go work in the vineyard. The first son initially refused but later repented and went. The second son agreed to go but ultimately disobeyed and did not go.
When Jesus asked His listeners which son did the will of the father, they recognized it was the first son, who, although reluctant at first, ended up obeying the father’s request. The second son, despite seeming kind and faithful to the father’s order, deceived him and disobeyed.
Jesus then explained that the tax collectors and prostitutes, who believed in John the Baptist’s message and repented, would enter the Kingdom of God before the religious leaders - those who were important and powerful in Israel.
This parable highlights the contrast between deception and final truth, between appearance and essence, between repentant sinners and pretentious sinners who do not repent.
The religious leaders, who seemed obedient at first glance, were actually not fulfilling God’s will. And those who were seen as sinners by everyone, if they turned to God in repentance, would attain salvation.
Why did Jesus tell this parable?
The Parable of the Two Sons was told by Jesus in response to an interaction with the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus was teaching in the temple when these men questioned His authority.
In response, Jesus asked them a question that challenged their sincerity: "Where did John’s baptism come from? From God or from men?" They were evasive, trying not to admit their hypocrisy and disobedience. Then, to further illustrate the presumption and hypocrisy of these men, Jesus told the Parable of the Two Sons.
Meaning of the Two Sons
In the story of the Two Sons, Jesus mentions the following figures, each of whom can be associated with the following meanings:
The Father: Represents God, who calls and commands different types of people to follow His ways and do His will.
The First Son: Initially refuses to obey. Jesus compares this son to the tax collectors and prostitutes who listened to the message of John the Baptist. They initially said no to God’s commandments - evident in their lives of sin and selfishness - but later repented of their sins and were baptized. This son can also represent anyone who acknowledges their sinfulness, repents of their failings, and trusts in Jesus.
The Second Son: Initially agrees to obey but does not fulfill his promise to the father. He represents the religious leaders and Pharisees of Jesus' time, who outwardly demonstrated faithfulness and sincerity but did not truly live according to God’s principles. This son can symbolize those who appear obedient or religious but do not follow God’s teachings in their lives.
John the Baptist: He was a forerunner of Jesus, preaching repentance and preparation for the coming of God’s Kingdom. He proclaimed God’s justice and baptized, leading many to believe in God and repent of their sins. When God sent John the Baptist as a prophet, He called all people to faith and repentance from their sinful actions. Some people, rejected by society, believed and repented, while others remained indifferent and arrogant, rejecting the invitation to repentance.
The Tax Collectors and Prostitutes: These two groups were considered major sinners and despised in society at that time. Tax collectors, or publicans, were government employees working for the Roman emperor. They were seen as traitors and thieves, known for their injustice and extortion. Prostitutes were held in low esteem due to their immoral, lascivious, and scandalous behavior.
God invites everyone to live in righteousness, obeying what He commands. Some say yes, but their actions do not align with the path of loyalty to God. Others reject Him, living in sinful behavior, but they truly repent and turn to God, doing what He commands.
Jesus warns about the deception of false appearances
In this parable, we see two specific groups represented by obedient and disobedient children. It is not enough to be friendly toward Jesus and later be unfaithful.
At the end of the story, Jesus associates the discredited figure of tax collectors and prostitutes - who were considered despicable sinners at that time - with the first son. On the other side, notable men of high prestige in society, due to their religious lives and involvement with the Law, were associated with the second son. In the end, the first group, who did the will of the father, enters the Kingdom of God before the second.
This reversal of values is clear in many other biblical passages, showing that God is not impressed by appearances but sees the essence of the human heart.
The deception that words and external appearances please God is an illusion. Those Jewish men lived behind a facade, but they were legalists - performing religious rites to be praised by men, not to please God. They felt so righteous (by their own works) and superior to others that they didn’t feel the need to repent and turn to God.
Similarly, many people always see the sins of others but fail to recognize that they too need to ask forgiveness for their own sins. We must recognize our own sins and repent. This is the first step.
The path of righteousness involves the conversion from a selfish and arrogant life to a life of obedience to God. What matters is truly doing God's will with all our heart.
Similarity with the Parable of the Prodigal Son
To some extent, we can draw a parallel between the Parable of the Two Sons and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. If we strip away all the details of the latter, we find a simplified version in the Two Sons.
In both stories, a father and his two opposing sons are portrayed. Here, the first son can be compared to the younger son, who sins, wastes his inheritance, but returns repentant. The older son, who seemingly always stayed with the father, reveals his final disobedience, unhappy with the father’s will.
The Parable of the Two Sons is an invitation to reflect on which side we are on. The kind father did not reject either son, so there is still time to work in His vineyard.
See more parables and their teachings: