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Explanation for:
Matthew
21
:
30
And coming to the other, he said in like manner. And he answering, said: I go, Sir; and he went not.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Although the Israelites declared, \\"All that the Lord hath said we will fulfil\\" (Ex. 19:8), they ultimately failed to adhere to the law. To prevent the Jews from believing that the law was advantageous to them, Christ demonstrated that it was, in fact, their condemnation. Consequently, Paul asserts, \\"Not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified\\" (Rom. 2:13)."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"“Very well,” he replied, “Lord!” This individual referred to him as son, yet he responded, “Lord!”—not addressing him as father, and still he did not carry out his promise."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The second reference signifies the son, the people of Judah, who replied to Moses, \\"All that the Lord saith, we will do\\" (Exodus 24:3). According to the New Synodal Translation: \\"All that the Lord hath said we will do.\\" They failed to enter the vineyard because, after having slain the Son of the master, they regarded themselves as the rightful heirs. Some interpret this parable not as a distinction between Gentiles and Jews, but rather as a contrast between sinners and the righteous, as the Lord later clarifies with the statement, \\"Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and harlots go ahead of you into the kingdom of God.\\" This is because those who, through their wrongful actions, initially spurned God's service ultimately repented and embraced the baptism of John. In contrast, the Pharisees, who prided themselves on their righteousness and adherence to the commandments of the law, dismissed John's baptism and adhered strictly to God's commandments. Thus, He declares:"},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"To labor in the vineyard signifies engaging in acts of righteousness. Previously, we established that the vineyard symbolizes the righteousness that God has instilled in the nature of humanity, particularly highlighted in the Hebrew Scriptures. Each vine within this vineyard represents a unique aspect of righteousness, such that each individual, based on their personal virtues, yields varying quantities of vines. Indeed, I have yet to encounter a person capable of producing an entire vineyard by themselves. Yet, when asked, one might respond, \\"I do not wish to.\\" How is this articulated? Internally, for when a person, possessing the capacity to discern good from evil, consciously opts for evil over good, they implicitly convey to the Lord a rejection within their own mind, saying, \\"I do not wish to.\\" This sentiment of refusal contradicts the very mind that was entrusted to God. While a person does not inwardly declare \\"I do not wish\\" in their heart, they remain incapable of truly sinning, as the psalmist declares: \\"The wickedness of the lawless one speaks in my heart\\" (Psalm 35:2). The Gentiles, who initially abandoned God and His righteousness in favor of idols and sinful ways, seem to have internally stated, \\"We will not pursue your righteousness; we are content with our own.\\" Upon addressing another, he echoed the same sentiment. This individual replied, \\"I will go, Master,\\" yet made no movement. The Jewish people, depicted here by the younger son, when approached by Moses and John the Baptist—who spoke as if God were proclaiming through them—vowed to obey all that the Lord commanded. Yet they later rejected and deceived God, as foretold by the prophet: \\"The sons of strangers have deceived me.\\" Which of the two fulfilled the will of his father? They answered, \\"The first.\\" Observe how they—seized by the truth of the parable—took the message and turned it against themselves, pointing to the first son, a representation of the Gentiles, as the one who accomplished the father’s desires. It is more commendable to uphold God's righteousness without making promises than to pledge fidelity and fail to deliver on that commitment."},{"author-name":"John Damascene","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88f1652142a026a0c6d53_John%20Damascene.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":8,"exegesis-text":"Beloved brethren, I urge all of you who are called by the name of the faithful and are privileged to be known as the people of Christ. Let us not tarnish our identity nor undermine our faith through unrighteous actions. It is insufficient for us to merely identify as believers; we must demonstrate our faith through our deeds. The Scripture recounts a story about a father who had two sons. He instructed the first, “Go and work in the vineyard.” Although the son initially agreed, he ultimately failed to follow through. The father then spoke to the second son, who outwardly refused but later complied with his father’s wishes. Thus, the first son was deserving of reproach, while the second was worthy of commendation (Matthew 21:28-31). In a similar manner, we must recall the vows we made during our Baptism. We must renounce the devil, his angels, and all his works to remain steadfast in our pledge. The deeds of the devil include: adultery, jealousy, strife, hostility, quarrels, hypocrisy, gossip, scorn, wrath, resentment, judgment, slander, and sorcery. Indicators of disbelief are: lack of mercy, animosity, sinful desires, greed, indulgence, and drunkenness. To serve the devil manifests as arrogance, vanity, self-centeredness, pride, and an excessive attachment to worldly appearances. By discarding these behaviors, let us hold fast to Christ and celebrate the virtues of purity, chastity, simplicity, patience, peace, love, compassion, mercy, generosity towards those in need, respectfulness in our interactions and dress, justice, humility, and especially the humility of Christ. In participating in Christ’s sufferings, may we also share in His glory and present to God, the Father, a living and holy sacrifice within the Church of the firstborn, in the house of joy."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Lord presents two groups of individuals, one of whom made a commitment initially; these were the Jews, who declared, “All that God hath said, we will do and obey.” The other group comprises those who initially disregarded God's commandments, including tax collectors, sinners, and Gentiles. While these individuals initially rebelled against God's desires, they ultimately repented and came to obedience. Observe the wisdom of Christ: He did not begin by telling the Pharisees that “publicans and sinners are better than all of you.” Instead, He first engaged with them. They themselves acknowledged that among the two sons, the one who truly fulfilled his father's will was the one who acted upon it."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"What do you consider your identity to be, particularly regarding the matters I am about to discuss? As they hesitated to disclose the origin of John's baptism, fearing they would reveal themselves as unbelievers, He sought to expose their lack of faith through a parable. He stated: ‘A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first, saying, ‘Child, go work in my vineyard today.’ The son initially replied, ‘I will not,’ but later changed his mind and went. In this context, the man represents God, who loves humanity, while his two sons symbolize the Jewish and Gentile peoples as His children. The son who did not affirmatively respond but ultimately went represents the Gentile nations, whereas the son who made a promise but failed to act corresponds to the Jewish nation. The Gentiles did not initially pledge their obedience to God, yet they later followed Him in faith, accepting both God and Christ. In contrast, the Jews had assuredly declared their intent to obey, as indicated in Exodus (Ex. 19:8): ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do and obey.’ Despite this, they ultimately turned away, proving unfaithful to both Christ and God. Focus on this singular aspect of the parable and elaborate upon it, while omitting other details, as we have previously discussed in other parables. This particular detail has been added with a degree of obscurity to ensure that the Jews, not recognizing any personal implications of the parable, might arrive at the correct conclusion."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the parable of the two sons, the second son eagerly exclaimed, ‘I am going,’ yet failed to follow through. This exemplifies the nature of impulsive good intentions; fulfilling them requires steadfastness, determination, and patience. A lighthearted spirit may quickly embrace every noble cause presented, but it is the unwavering will that initially hesitates to act. This frailty is common among many. How then can one prevent such shortcomings before themselves and others? The answer lies in careful deliberation and ensuring that you possess the strength to commit to any undertaking. The Lord illustrates this in the parable of the man who sets out to wage war and the one who begins to construct a home. What constitutes this prudence? As the Lord suggests, it is essential to equip oneself with selflessness and perseverance. Assess whether you possess these foundational qualities necessary for all who labor in righteousness; if you do, then proceed with your endeavors. If not, take time to cultivate them first. Should you possess these virtues, you will endure and triumph over any challenges that arise on your journey, ultimately completing what you have begun. This careful consideration does not imply that encountering difficult tasks should lead to retreat, but rather should motivate you towards diligent effort. From this mindset will arise strength of will and consistency in action. Thus, it will be far less likely for you to proclaim, ‘I am going,’ only to fail to follow through."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The son was so disrespectful that he outright declined, responding, \\"I do not wish to.\\" However, later, filled with remorse, he recognized his mistake, understood that he had disappointed his father, and went to labor in the vineyard. The father then approached another son and conveyed the same message he had given to the first. This son, while showing honor to his father, replied, \\"I will go, sir,\\" yet he did not follow through."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Pharisees, scribes, and those who considered themselves righteous seemed to comply with divine instructions and laws, proclaiming their intent with phrases like \\"I will go.\\" However, in truth, they did not follow through because they lacked genuine repentance, which is essential for justification (Matt. 21:32). In reality, they acted as adversaries to the kingdom of God."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The parable of the two sons involves a man who had two children and sent them to tend to his vineyard. One child initially refused but later felt remorse, repented, and went. The other claimed he would go but never did. Jesus asked which son fulfilled his father's wishes. With a lack of comprehension regarding the true intent behind Jesus' parable, they replied that the first son clearly did, to which Jesus affirmed their answer. \\n\\nHe then elaborated on the meaning of the parable. The Lord, through John the Baptist, called you to repentance, an essential step for entering the kingdom of Heaven, and expected you to produce the appropriate fruits of repentance; in essence, He invited you to labor in His vineyard. He also reached out to tax collectors and harlots. It appeared that those who took pride in their knowledge of the Scriptures would be more responsive to His invitation than those perceived as sinners. Furthermore, your outward shows of piety often masked your true neglect of God's will. You claimed, \\"I am coming, Lord,\\" yet failed to take action and disregarded John's appeal. \\n\\nIn contrast, the tax collectors and harlots, who had previously turned away from God's will, upon hearing John, recognized their ways, repented, and began to work in the Lord's vineyard. You witnessed this change but did not repent or believe John’s message. Therefore, recognize that tax collectors and harlots are ahead of you on the path to the kingdom of Heaven; many of them will enter, while you will face rejection. \\n\\nThe members of the Sanhedrin approached the temple as accusers, but now they stood before Jesus and the people, silent and condemned."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Since the esteemed leaders of the community were present, He conveyed several parables that were closely related to them and the Jewish populace as a whole. He shared a story about two sons, where the first initially resisted his father's command but later repented and complied, while the second son offered a flattering promise yet failed to act on it. He then inquired, \\"Which of the two has done his father's will?\\" Naturally, they could only respond, \\"the first.\\" He then revealed to them the profound significance of their own reply. It illustrated that even the tax collectors and prostitutes, despite their blatant and disgraceful violations of the law, were leading the way into the kingdom of heaven ahead of them—the learned and highly esteemed legal experts of the holy nation. These sinners, whom they looked down upon and despised, had already entered those gates while they were still open."}]}
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