Parable on the Two Sons.

(Mat. 21:28-32).

Continuing His conversation with them, the Lord related a parable, wishing that they would pronounce judgment on themselves. “A man had two sons” — as can be seen from previous examples, man means God, the first son — tax collectors and harlots i.e. sinners in general, while the second son — Scribes and Pharisees i.e. everyone in general that regards himself as righteous. “Go, work today in My vineyard”: the word “vineyard” means church, while the work in it — pious works, fulfillment of God’s commandments. Sinners respond to God’s directive with: “I will not” (by their very lifestyle), but then repent — just as the tax collectors and harlots repented upon hearing John the Baptist’s sermons — and begin to fulfill God’s will. Pharisees and self-opinionated righteous individuals respond with “I go” i.e. they seem to fulfill God’s will in words, but not so in deeds, because they don’t accept the Lord’s sermons on repentance. Not understanding the meaning of the parable and being inquisitive, they responded to the Lord’s question as to which of the two sons had fulfilled God’s will with: “The first.” The Lord then revealed the meaning of the parable, aimed at censuring them. He pointed out to them that the people that they despised as sinners, appear more worthy than they to enter the Messiah’s Kingdom — Christ’s Church.