TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE (Mt 21:23-32)
Then Jesus entered the temple courts, and as he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Was John’s baptism from heaven or from men? Tell me.” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Then Jesus said to them, “What do you think? Two brothers went out to work in the vineyard. The first went out and said to his father, ‘Yes, sir, I will work today.’ But he did not do what he said. The second son went out and said, ‘No, sir, I will not work today.’ But later he changed his mind and went out and worked. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The second one,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, 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."
During Advent, the prayers of tax collectors and prostitutes are particularly requested, rather than those of the high priests and elders. They will see the Lord who comes with a repentant heart.
A tale of two sons
Jesus rode on a donkey and entered Jerusalem, going to the temple where he drove out the merchants, saying, "You have made the house of prayer into a den of robbers." The chief priests and elders questioned his authority to do this, and Jesus responded by asking them where John the Baptist's authority came from. They were hesitant to answer, fearing the people's response.
Jesus then told them a parable about two sons. The father asked the first son to work in the vineyard, but he refused, while the second son initially refused but then changed his mind and went to work. Jesus asked the priests and elders which son did what the father wanted, and they answered that it was the second son.People have a tendency to close their eyes and fall into darkness even when there is a bright light shining. In terms of faith, if we think about light and darkness, it is natural for Christians to live as true Christians. However, when Christians close their eyes and turn their heads away from living as true Christians, they become dark Christians. If Christians confess Jesus Christ as their Lord but confess their faith in something else, they are no longer Christians. If we reflect on whether we have ever served anything other than Jesus Christ, big or small, we will need to receive God's arrest warrant several times.
Two Types of People
The passage we are going to delve deeper into is the one that talks about two sons, representing two types of people: the son who obeys his father's will and the son who does not. This can be understood as a distinction between those who commit sins and enter the kingdom of God and those who live diligently but move farther away from God's kingdom. The point at which this distinction is made is what we reflect upon as we read the passage.
The two types of people are as follows: the chief priests and elders who question Jesus, and the tax collectors and prostitutes who also appear in the story. Which category would the son who said he would go work in the vineyard but did not belong to? And which category does the son who initially refused to work but later changed his mind belong to? Which of these two groups do you feel closer to?
Let me introduce another story about two types of people. Two thieves, who were crucified with Jesus, were also subjected to the same punishment. One of the thieves blasphemed Jesus, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us." He spoke recklessly, knowing he was going to die. On the other hand, the other thief said, "We are receiving the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." He repented, saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Which of the two types of people do these two thieves belong to? The first son? The second son? The chief priests and elders? The tax collectors and prostitutes?
Where do the first son and second son diverge?
It would likely be whether or not they went to work in the vineyard according to their father's command. However, that is only the final action, and the decisive moment had already passed before that. In the text, it is referred to as "repentance" (Mt 21:30). This is the point where the two sons are separated. People cannot live without sinning. This is a fact that I know, and God knows. Therefore, the Psalmist confessed, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God" (Ps 14:1-3). Paul also accepts the confession of the Psalmist (Rom 3:10-12). After the flood of Noah, God acknowledged that "every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood" (Gn 8:21). Jesus proclaimed the first words of his public life as "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!" Jesus accurately identified repentance, the point where the first son and second son diverge.
When Jesus entered the temple and drove out the merchants and money changers, turning the chaotic temple into a place of prayer, the chief priests and elders rushed to him, surprised that they had never seen anyone like him causing a commotion. They asked him in a sophisticated manner, "By what authority are you doing these things?" (Mt 21:23). When Jesus turned the temple into a house of prayer, they did not have the heart to admit that they were wrong. The chief priests and elders knew better than anyone else that the temple was a house of prayer, but when Jesus pointed out their wrongdoing, they did not repent. Instead, they became more stubborn and said, "Who gave you this authority?" (Mt 21:23).
Jesus confronts the high priest and elders who are unable to recognize their own sins, and instead judge a tax collector and a prostitute as sinners. Jesus sees that the tax collector and prostitute are self-aware and capable of reflecting on their actions, while the high priest and elders are not. He hears the tax collector's prayer of repentance as he beats his chest and hides behind a temple pillar. Jesus also hears the prayers of the high priest and elders, who stand in the street with their hands raised, reciting their good deeds.
After listening to both prayers, Jesus tells them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you" (Mt 21:31). The point at which tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before the high priest and elders is repentance, or remorse. Jesus tells the high priest and elders that he knows they are aware that what they are doing in the temple is wrong, and that they should repent. He points out that they should hear the prayer of the tax collector who is behind the pillar, beating his chest, and ask themselves if they can see the tax collector's remorse.
On the surface, the high priest and elders seem faithful and do many good things. They answer "yes" without hesitation to the father's word, like the first son. However, they do not follow the father's will. On the other hand, although the tax collector and prostitute may appear to be more sinful, they are more likely to live according to the father's will. They come out of the temple, beat their chests, and say, "Have mercy on me, a sinner." This is the type of person that the second son represents.
It is the season of Advent. We have a clear object of our waiting, but it is our responsibility to decide how we wait. We must feel remorse and repentance. In the text, Jesus says that John the Baptist came to us saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Mt 3:2) John came to tell us what righteousness is. Righteousness means doing the will of the Father. We all fall short of doing the father's will, and we must repent with a humble heart saying, "Lord, have mercy on me." After the passage, Jesus speaks of a more severe parable. He shows us how evil we can be. The wicked tenant who does not repent, even killing the landowner's son, is what is shown when Jesus cleanses the temple.
Let us not harden our hearts. Even if it seems like God has not been taking care of us, let us not miss the time to repent and say, "Lord, have mercy on me." The kingdom of God is not far away; it is in our repentant hearts. Let us keep Advent with a repentant spirit.