Insiders and Outsiders

So Jesus arrives, the context of these stories, Jesus arrives at the nerve centre of the nation of Israel.

He arrives in Jerusalem at the temple.

And he doesn't arrive at the temple like most people do to offer a sacrifice.

Instead, he knocks sacrifice tables over.

He doesn't come to bring peace.

He comes and causes mayhem.

And he complains that this temple is not what it ought to be.

It ought to be a house of prayer, but it's not.

And so the political heavyweights of the time came over to Jesus like a council inspector would come to a bad busker and says, on what authority are you doing these things? Please explain.

And they refused to answer each other's questions.

So Jesus changes the script by telling these two stories, starting with this one about two sons.

So pick it up with me in verse 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.

I will not, he answered.

But later he changed his mind and he went.

Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.

He answered, I will, sir.

But he did not go.

Which of the two sons did what the father wanted? What do you think? Well, the first son said, no, dad, I don't want to, or something of that nature.

But he actually ended up doing it.

The second son calls his dad sir.

Did you notice that, dads, today? If you've got a father today, just call him sir.

You know, see how that goes.

Happy Father's Day.