Stewards of Life, Pt. 7: "Sour and Sweet"

SOUR AND SWEET (MATTHEW 21:28-32)
More than a decade ago, Robert Haft trumpeted this famous commercial to financial success: “If you paid full price, you didn't buy it at Crown Books.” Robert was the son and heir apparent of the Dart Group founder, Herbert Haft, who made his fortune in real estate and discount drug stores.

Offering discounts of 40%, Crown became a hit and gained a national following. But the elder Haft touched off a family feud when he rescinded plans to turn the reigns at the parent company, Dart, over to his son Robert and fired him. Robert the son wanted for a more open attitude to investors and a faster accession to full power. The father dismissed Robert from the chairman of Crown, ignored a 10-year employment contract and suspended his $500,000 in salary and $250,000 in bonuses a year. The feud went public, and father and son became bitter enemies. Mom protested and was also fired, and later divorced.

In the meanwhile, no one was minding the store when Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon muscled into Crown's market share in the early 1990s. Crown plunged from its peak of 240 stores in 1994 to its bankruptcy and liquidation in 2001.
http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n14_v37/ai_20986838

The child-parent relationship is anything but predictable, easy and controllable, especially when the child has his own mind, tongue and freedom. Jesus compares the unexpected repentance and obedience of tax collectors and prostitutes at the preaching of the gospel and his teaching to a child’s “no, but yes” answer to His offer of salvation, and the unusual resistance and opposition of the Pharisees to a “yeah, right!” attitude to the same offer.

Why is God gracious and merciful to sinners as well as saints? What are God’s terms of offer to believers and unbelievers alike?

You May Be Silly and Sensitive, But Don’t Be Stubborn
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 “'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. (Matt 21:28-29)

When Doris and I studied this parable, the first thing she remarked was, “You are the Number 1 son!” That I am, so I treat him with kid’s gloves!

When she predicted that I would pursue another degree, I sneered, “Why do I need another degree when I have a Master of Theology degree? It is not going to make me serve any better!” Within a year, in 1997, I headed off for a Doctor of ministry degree. When I left Southern California then for Chicago’s Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, I vouched that I would not be back. I would rather serve in the Midwest, the East, anywhere but the West. Six months later I returned to minister in Riverside, an hour east of Los Angeles. When she said I could open an e-mail account to write to her when I was away to study, again I resisted, but I did not want to offend or hurt her. In my heart, I protested, “Why in the world do people need to e-mail when they can talk by phone? It seems impersonal and insincere to me.”

Several months later, when she told me about the computer software “PC Study Bible” her brother-in-law was using, I blurted out, “Why on earth are people turning to computer software, and not their Bibles, to study the word of God?” Now I am its biggest fan and salesman and I have personally sold more than 50 copies to my preaching students in seminary. Finally, when she pestered me to join a fitness center, arguing that swimming could help strengthen my weak knees, I brushed it aside. Now she says I am obsessed with it!

The original text did not say the first son is the eldest. The first son was not the type who liked to be told what to do and when to do things by whoever around, not even, or maybe especially, by his own parent. The child’s idleness and loafing around the house was not an option to the father, but getting the son to work was like pulling teeth. The father tried very hard not to make things harder or the situation more tense than it already was by giving his son a lot of leeway. He said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” The father did not order things done “right now,” “next hour,” “sometime soon” or “before long,” but “before closing.”

The child wasn’t furious but he was stubborn. The moment he heard the word “today,” he said defiantly in Greek, “Not I will.” Those two words “not” and “I will” are as defiant and as resolute a response as can be in the gospels. There is no precedent in the Bible for such a short and sharp reply in the same sentence construction. He didn’t care to argue, explain or delay. The message was clear: “I don’t care. Don’t bother me. Get someone else.” The wise father did not force or bribe the son to work.

The first son brooded, moped around, moaned and groaned for a while, but he was never bitter or grudging in his heart. He dissented and then consented, but never resented. No bust up or nasty encounter occurred. He understood his father wasn’t picking on him, exploiting free labor or giving him a hard time; he did the same to all his children. A parent has to do what a parent has to do; they have their responsibilities, roles, and reasons to get Junior off the bed, the couch, the television, the computer and video games. After a little fussing, Junior slipped into something comfortable, headed for the fields and got down to business. Already he had shrugged off and forgotten about the episode.

The first son started off with a weak “no” reply, but ended up with an un spoken “yes” response. He said “no” in his answer but “yes” by his actions. It was better late than never. He got over his attitude, got out of the house and got around to do it. The word “later” is not about time, but chronology; it means anytime after the incident, not the day’s last hour, minute, or second. Elsewhere, the word has been translated as “finally” (Matt 26:60) or “after” (Matt 4:2).

The NIV’s use of the phrase “changed his mind” is weak and inferior. The Greek is “regretted” or “repented,” the same word Matthew used for Judas’ repentance (NIV – seized with remorse). It describes feelings, not mind. However, like Judas’ repentance, this word, “metameloomai,” is not as strong as the regular word for repentance, “metanoia.” The present word means “concern” or “care.” The traditional word for “repentance” is change of mind, but the first son changed his concern, attitude, and feelings. He felt he was wrong and his father was right. He appeared stubborn but he was, in fact, a sensitive child.

You May Be Sweet and Sophisticated, But Don’t Be Selfish
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. (Matt 21:30)

One day a rich man received a letter from his son who was studying in another city. Being occupied, he asked his secretary to read it to him. The secretary, who was in a bad mood, read it in a disagreeable, impatient voice. “Father! Send me some money right away. I need a new pair of shoes and a coat.” When the father heard what his son had written, he cried out, “That lack of respect lout! How dare he write in such a disrespectful manner to his own father! He won't get a cent from me!”

A little later, when the secretary was gone, his wife entered. “Just see what kind of letter our precious son writes!” the aggrieved father remarked, handing his wife the letter. When she saw her son's handwriting her mother's heart melted and she began to read the letter aloud in the tender, supplicating voice she used at prayer, “Father! Send me some money right away. I need a new pair of shoes and a coat.”
“Well! That's different!” cried the father. “Now he's asking like a gentleman. I'll send him the money right away.”

John Wilmont said, “Before I got married I had six theories about bringing children; now I have six children and no theories.”

The second son was smoother and more sophisticated than the first. His mouth was dipped in honey or, as the Cantonese say, his mouth was rinsed in oil! He was a model child, Papa’s boy and a man of the house when he heard his father’s similar instructions. He was nothing like his brother; he made his parent’s day and pressed all the right buttons. The reply in Greek was: “Ego Kurie,” or “I, Lord.” The boy acted like he was eager and listening, almost volunteering, as if the idea was his own to begin with, but it was a ploy to throw the old man off and get him off his case and out the door. He didn’t say “in a second,” “in a minute” or “in a jiffy/moment,” but he really meant, “in a million years.” Delaying his father till the workday was done and the working hours were over was his act. He had perfected the art of sweet talk and the art of saying no the least painful way, flashing the sweetest smile, melting the coldest hearts and saying the right things. This type can talk a bird out of a tree, a client into a sale, a dead situation into life and a parent out of wits and limits. What is there not to like?

The boy wasn’t indifferent, negative or procrastinating. He was as irresistible and as likable as could be when he turned on his charm and charisma. The son was peerless as a diplomat, salesman and public relations officer, but in truth he was a spin doctor, a social problem and a con artist in the making.

Not only did the son let his father down, he let his brother down by leaving him all alone in the vineyard. The first son started off with a weak “no” reply and ended up with a wise “yes” response, but his brother began with a wholesome “yes” reply but sneaked in a willful “no” response. He wasn’t in the fields or anywhere in sight when his brother looked about, when the daylights were gone and the sun had set and when everyone had to leave. Unlike his brother, all he cared about was himself. The truth is he never intended to go, never meant what he said and never cared one bit about others – parent, sibling or worker. His yes was a no, the word “lord” (v 31) meant nothing - he was his own “lord,” and his aim was to please himself, not parent or sibling! He promised much but delivered little, gave his word and vowed his presence but left experts searching for answers and wondering what went wrong.

You May Be Saintly and Superior, But Do Not Be Self-righteous
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 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. (Matt 21:23-32)

Father O’Malley, who had been invited to show that God was on the side of the Democratic Party, found himself sitting next to a disbeliever.

“I hope you’ll forgive me for saying so, Father,” said the miscreant, opening up a conversation, “but I never go to church.”

“Why not?” asked the priest.

“Frankly, sir, the reason I don’t go is because there are so many hypocrites there.”

“That shouldn’t keep you away,” retorted the good Father, smiling blandly. “There’s always room for one more.”

Unknown to them, the hypocritical chief priest and the elders were dead, rotten and smelly inside. They had gone from bad to worse. The religious leaders had turned from rejecting John the Baptist to the use of deadly force on Jesus. They profess to love God but they plotted to kill Jesus (Matt 12:14). Jesus predicted his eventual confrontation with chief priests and the teachers of the law (Matt 20:18), who were indignant at the children’s joyous reception of Jesus in Jerusalem for the things He had done (Matt 21:15). He anticipated suffering at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law (Matt 16:21), and betrayal into and death at the hands of the chief priests and the teachers of the law (Matt 20:18).

Worst of all, these skeptics did not see how God could bypass them for dirty rotten scoundrels. The tax collectors and the prostitutes were the whipping men and ladies in the gospels and of the chief priests and the elders. The tax collectors were the IRS of its day and the prostitutes were the worst sort of sinners; they were the least welcome in society, the scum of the earth and the lowest form of life – male and female. This is the first time they are lumped together in the Scriptures.

These social outcasts were given up by society but not by Jesus or John the Baptist, who taught teachable tax collectors not to collect more than they were required to (Luke 3:13). On the other hand, the religious leaders were self-righteous, smug and sanctimonious. They considered tax collectors and prostitutes irredeemable, beyond hope and doomed for judgment. God, nevertheless, specializes in befriending sinners (Matt 11:19), saving souls and changing lives. The proof in the pudding is the conversion of Matthew, the tax collector turned apostle (Matt 10:3) who was invited to Jesus’ inner circle and admitted into his select group.

A pastor told me: “I don’t like both sons. Even the first son’s repentance is not repentance.” True, that’s exactly Jesus’ point. He couldn’t draw regret out of the self-righteous religious leaders, never mind drawing repentance!

Conclusion: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – for you and me. The Bible says, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom 3:10-12). Do you know God saves us not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace (2 Tim 1:9), not because of righteous things we have done but because of his mercy? (Titus 3:5) That we are saved not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:9)? Would you rather be weak and sensitive before His presence than to be sufficient and insubordinate in His eyes?

Discussion Questions (Contributed by Daniel Hung)
1. What does “changed his mind” (vv 29, 32) mean?
2. Who were “you” in verse 31 and 32 in those days? And who can they be today?
3. In God’s eyes, who are qualified to receive His salvation and to do His will?

Reflection Question
1. “Did the will of His father” (v 31) refers not only to paying lip service but taking the appropriate actions; not seeing only but believing. Do you only have “talk” but no “walk” with some of God’s will? What are your difficulties or obstacles?