Which one does the Father’s will?

“Jesus now had them ready for the spiritual lesson He had for them. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him..” - Matthew 21v28-31

After Jesus’ amazing triumphal entry into Jerusalem the Pharisees and other religious leaders realised that that they had a dilemma on their hands. The masses were turning to Him and they feared His new teaching so they set out to trick Him. They asked Him plainly first if His works were from God or man. He turned things around by asking them a question which confused them so He asked them another. “A man has two sons and both are to work in the field. One says he won’t, but does; the other says he will but doesn’t. Which one is doing the father’s will?” The answer was so obvious that they thought they couldn’t get this one wrong – “The one who worked,” was their reply.

Jesus now had them ready for the spiritual lesson He had for them. These men thought that they were the spiritual ones. Yet Jesus told them that the tax collectors and harlots who had turned to Christ were the ones who please God. Why? Because the Pharisees said that they followed righteousness but didn’t. The tax collectors and Pharisees acted like they would never follow God, but did. Who pleased God? The answer was as obvious to them as the previous question, even if they would not admit it.

God doesn’t want our words and platitudes. He wants our actions as we turn to and follow Him. The choice should be clear. What do we do with it?