Philippians 2:1-13
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.
Conversation
Tell me about the family in which you grew up. Who was in charge? Were you like one of the two sons in the parable? Was one or more of your children like one of the sons?
Sermon
“Which of the two sons did the will of his father?”
I grew up in the era of movies and television … which served to confuse us about family values… Television had programming which was often at odds with old family values. On television we watched characters like Jackie Gleason, Archie Bunker, and Homer Simpson… They were loud and demanding… They were opinionated and inflexible… They were bigoted and intolerant. In short their characters were far from the role models that supported the values of our family.
This past week I also watched a Turner Classic Movie… “East of Eden”. The movie was about twin sons… and their relationship with their father…who was a hard working farmer with high expectations of his sons. Aaron was the “good son” who did everything according to the will of his father. Cal, was the “bad son”, who was always up to some kind of mischief. He slept in… and was late getting out to help in the fields. He stole from others… He drank too much and got into drunken brawls. He tried…but no matter how hard he tried to earn his father’s love…his father favored the other son…saying; “Why can’t you be like Aaron?” Even his one genuine effort to please his father was a failure…and was rejected by his father.
Many of us grew up in families, in which the old world family values were very important. When our parents spoke we were expected to listen…and then do the work we were asked to. That’s what good children were supposed to do. When I became a young father…I was determined to be better. I wanted to be a consistent parent…whose rules and expectation would always be the same… whether we were by ourselves or we were in public. But with responsibility and the busy-ness of a growing family…my best intentions did not completely materialize. I remember having high expectation for my children. I remember being a father…who expected immediate action.
Family expectations are very often highest when other people out side the family are present. When other people are present adhering to a specific family code…which showed that the family is good and respectful is very important. When my children broke the family code in public…when they misbehaved or talked back in public… inside I became angry and ashamed. On the way home there was usually a discussion about how our family is supposed to be different. Our children are not supposed to make our family look bad in public.
Today Jesus tells a story about two sons and how they respond to their father’s request to work. The first refuses but later does what he father asks. The second says yes but never goes to work. Jesus asks the chief priests and elders; “Which of the two does the will of the father?” Their answer; “The first.” is correct…if it is only about getting the required work done. The first son does go out to the vineyard and do the work that his father asked… However, from the father’s point of view… probably neither of his sons do his will. As visitors observing and witnessing the first son’s response… we cluck our tongues… commenting about his shameful and disrespectful answer… We can see the father’s shoulders sagging… by the shame and dishonor this first son has shown. On the other hand…for visitor the second son says all the right things. His answer…also elicits our comments…about how he is such an agreeable and respectful lad… We would be proud to be his father. From the second son the father has received honor in front of his guests…but in true fact has not received it from this son’s heart.
There are two very important parts to the story of the two sons…the response to his request and what they do about it. If the father had the opportunity pick…he would likely choose to have the; “Yes I will sir.” response of the second son…matched with the actions of the first son who reconsiders and does the work. He would prefer to be honored in both word and in deed.
We are like the two sons. Often our words are at odds with our deeds. At times we say all the right things which honor our God…but when it comes to doing God’s will we do not. At other times…knowing what God wants… to God’s great disappointment… we say; “No, I will not.” However, later we reconsider and finally do what God wants. Yes we are like both sons and we will never be able to give God the total love and honor which is due to God. Jesus asks us to examine whether we do God’s will…both by what we say and by what we do…by word and deed.
While we struggle to use the rights word and to do the right deeds…Jesus is the true example of word and deed response. Paul’s words in today’s letter to the Philippians really describe well how Jesus’ words and deeds are consistent. He says;
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Through Jesus, God’s work is done in both word and deed… Even though he was God…worthy of honor and glory… Even though he is the Son in the kingdomof God… Jesus does not stay in the palace separated from his subjects… With a willing heart he suffers and even dies… His words are like those of the second son saying: “I will do it.” And like the first son he follows through doing the work. Jesus goes to the cross for our salvation.
We are called to remember how God has loved us. We are called to remember how Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death on the cross for our salvation. We are called to believe in God’s love and God’s salvation which has been given to us in Jesus. We are called to give honor to God in both our words and our deeds.
So today let us respond to the work God does for us. Let us respond to God’s love as we see it in Jesus. Let us receive the gift of love and salvation with truly thankful hearts. Let us speak words of thanksgiving…which bring honor to our Savior and our God. And let us go out into our community and the world doing the will of our Father who is in heaven. Thanks be to our God. Amen.
Out of the Wilderness 