Just to keep things rolling: Matt 21:28-31

[struggle4progress]

14. I do not understand your reading of the parable of the two sons:

"A man, with two sons, asked one to work in his vineyard. That son said no but later changed his mind and went. Meanwhile the father asked the other son the same. This son promised to go but did not. Which of them responded as their father wanted?" And they replied the first did. So Jesus said, “Look! Tax collectors and prostitutes enter the Kingdom ahead of you!"

Imagine walking around with that man. You see him ask one son to go work, and the brat outright refuses to help. What a crummy attitude! What doesn't his father just boot him out? Then you see the second son cheerfully agrees immediately to help. What a really great kid! Who wouldn't want an obedient righteous son like that?

But imagine instead watching the vineyard. Who actually shows up? Why, there's that arrogant no-good lazy back-talking little punk! The cheerfully dutiful son, who quickly promised to be there, never shows

The story is a slap in the face to anyone who ever spoke hypocritical words

And the message doesn't get better, either. This trouble-maker from Nazareth really isn't making lots of friends among the better class of people: "The tax collectors and prostitutes are better than you!" Oh, really? When the voice of conscience urges us towards some good work, only a wretch would say, "Oh, bugger off, conscience! I think today I'd rather just fuck around. I've got some ideas for extorting money from poor peasants, backed by the police power of the state!" Wouldn't it be better if we replied cheerfully, "Certainly, my conscience! Of course! You are right!" so our conscience could be soothed and satisfied?

One son is honest and authentic. Asked to work in the vineyard, he tells his father honestly that he does not want to do that today. But he is honest with himself, too: he does not hide from his bad conscience -- and in the end, he does labor. The other son, with one dishonesty, not only quiets his father and sends the old man away -- he also manages in the same instant to quiet his own conscience and send it away too

Be ye therefore doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves
James 1:22