Matthew 21:28-32 Page 834 in Pew Bibles 28. “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’ 29. “He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went.

30. Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. “‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go. 31. “Which of the two did his father’s will?” “The first,” they said.

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! 32. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

Talk is No Substitute for Obedience Vs. 30 “Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. Vs. 30 “Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go.” >

Talk is No Substitute for Obedience We don’t often say, “I won’t” – we say, “I can’t” We don’t often say, “I won’t” – we say, “I can’t” We often say “I will… but later” We often say “I will… but later” – Choosing when we obey is to disobey Style is just another form of talk – and it’s no substitute for obedience, either Style is just another form of talk – and it’s no substitute for obedience, either. >

Everyone Knows It! Vs. 31 “‘Which of the two did his father’s will?’ Vs. 31 “‘Which of the two did his father’s will?’ ‘The first,’ they said.”. >

Knowledge is No Substitute for Obedience Vs. 23 “When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him…” Vs. 23 “When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him…” Vs. 31 “Jesus said to them, ‘I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!” Vs. 31 “Jesus said to them, ‘I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!”. >

Knowing the Will of God is Tied to Doing the Will of God Vs. 28 “A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today’” Vs. 28 “A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today’” Lloyd John Ogilvie: “We cannot know the will of God unless we are willing to do the obvious, primary thing He has told us to do.” Lloyd John Ogilvie: “We cannot know the will of God unless we are willing to do the obvious, primary thing He has told us to do.”. >

Son-ship Should Motivate Obedience Vs. 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons…” Vs. 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons…” Heirs to the vineyard Heirs to the vineyard They have a personal interest in the success of the vineyard They have a personal interest in the success of the vineyard Why does the father have to ask them to work at all? Why does the father have to ask them to work at all? What about their relationship with the father? … What about their relationship with the father? … Q >

Andrew Murray. > The secret of true obedience is the clear and close personal relationship to God. All our attempts after full obedience will be failures until we get access to his abiding fellowship. It is God's holy presence consciously abiding with us that keeps us from disobeying Him.

Obedience is Tied to Your Most Deeply Held Beliefs Vs. 32 “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him…’” Vs. 32 “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him…’” Luther: “I believe in order to obey; I obey in order to believe” Luther: “I believe in order to obey; I obey in order to believe”. >

It’s Never Too Late to Repent Vs “A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’ Vs “A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’ “He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went..