In Jesus' Parable of the Two Sons, why did some prostitutes and tax collectors--but not all--enter the kingdom of heaven?
What does this fact tell us about what we must to to be saved?
In the Parable of the Two Sons (verses 28-32), Jesus was still addressing the clergy. One son initially refused to go work in the vineyard but afterward changed his mind, repented, and did go into the vineyard. The other son professed or promised to go into the vineyard to work but did not.
The first son represented the publicans and sinners, who were not professed Christians at first, but in the final analysis, they repented and accepted the gospel. They did not have the “orthodox” religious background. The second son represented the clergy, who were ostensibly God’s ministers doing vineyard work, but they were not doing what they should be doing.
This parable ties together the thought that “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected [ordained] praise” (Matt. 21:16). In the final analysis, the repentant sinners praised God, as evidenced by their transformed characters and lifestyle. On the other hand, the religious leaders were not living a life in harmony with their professions.
From the true perspective, all of the consecrated are “priests”—fellow priests running for the prize of the high calling. Therefore, the ministers, in maintaining a superior status over the laity, are not doing proper vineyard work. The clergy are looking for proselytes but not for the seed class, the Little Flock, those who run for the prize of the high calling. They do not even understand the high calling in the sense of being kings and priests in the next age.
Jesus mentioned the need for repentance. Publicans and harlots will go into the Kingdom before the religious leaders because of repentance. The “Kingdom” class are being harvested, and the clergy class will be thrust out as a whole, even though they think they are already in the Kingdom.
The first son represented the publicans and sinners, who were not professed Christians at first, but in the final analysis, they repented and accepted the gospel. They did not have the “orthodox” religious background. The second son represented the clergy, who were ostensibly God’s ministers doing vineyard work, but they were not doing what they should be doing.
This parable ties together the thought that “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected [ordained] praise” (Matt. 21:16). In the final analysis, the repentant sinners praised God, as evidenced by their transformed characters and lifestyle. On the other hand, the religious leaders were not living a life in harmony with their professions.
From the true perspective, all of the consecrated are “priests”—fellow priests running for the prize of the high calling. Therefore, the ministers, in maintaining a superior status over the laity, are not doing proper vineyard work. The clergy are looking for proselytes but not for the seed class, the Little Flock, those who run for the prize of the high calling. They do not even understand the high calling in the sense of being kings and priests in the next age.
Jesus mentioned the need for repentance. Publicans and harlots will go into the Kingdom before the religious leaders because of repentance. The “Kingdom” class are being harvested, and the clergy class will be thrust out as a whole, even though they think they are already in the Kingdom.
