IS IT WORSE to refuse to do something you are asked to do, or to say that you will do something and then not do it? That is the question posed in today’s Gospel. 

Our Lord is talking to the chief priests and elders. These are the religious leaders of His day, the people tasked with guiding the people of Israel in their relationship with God. Jesus has entered Jerusalem in triumph, and cast out the money-changers from the Temple, and cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit. What we are witnessing in the Gospel is a religious reform. Those who are supposed to have brought people closer to God are shown to be resistant and rebellious; they are the problem rather than the solution. 

The chief priests and elders are concerned with authority — power and influence. What gives Jesus the right to say and do what He does? Clearly Christ does not want to answer their question, for if He told the truth He would be accused of blasphemy, so Our Lord answers their question with another question:

“I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” (Mt 21:24-25)

The religious authorities are unable and unwilling to answer the question, so Jesus teaches them using a parable:

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’, but afterwards he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir’, but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” (Mt 21:28-31)

In the parable of the two sons, clearly the one who overcame his initial reluctance and actually did the will of his father, by working in the vineyard, is the example for us to follow. This son experiences repentance, and changes his behaviour to do what is best for him. He starts out as being stubborn, rebellious, and disobedient — but the important thing is that he repents. The other son begins with an outward show of respect. He appears to be a dutiful son, addressing his father as Sir, but he is basically a hypocrite, as his actions do not match his words. True obedience is not in outward displays of respect, but in doing the will of God.

The point Our Lord is making is that the chief priests and elders appear to be doing the will of God, and keeping the Law. However, they are in fact very far from the ideal, and are puffed up with pride and self-righteous indignation. This is why in Jesus’ reply to them He refers to tax collectors and prostitutes.

Two thousand years ago, tax-collectors and prostitutes were seen as the lowest of the low in society. The first were viewed as swindlers, the second as sexually immoral. Both, however, were on good terms with the Romans, they were certainly not the kind of company a religiously observant Jew would keep. And yet, despite their sins, these are the people who are willing to repent. They are aware of their need for God, and they understand that God loves them. They believe that God will be merciful, will heal their wounds, and will welcome them into His kingdom. By recognising that it is more important to do the will of God rather than simply to say that you will, the religious authorities highlight their own hypocrisy and are condemned by their own lips. They have been told by John the Baptist what God wants, but they have ignored him, and now when Jesus tells them the same message they will also ignore the Lord their God.

The chief priests and elders will soon call for Jesus’ death by crucifixion. This is a demonstration of humility and obedience by Our Lord who dies for us, offering His Body and His Blood to heal us, and give us eternal life in Him. As we prepare to receive Him, may we have the humility to let Him transform us into His likeness. May we be conscious of our need of God, and our need to turn back and follow Him, so that we may have life in all its fullness. May we prepare to enjoy God’s closer presence and sing the praises of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion, and power, now and forever. Amen.