THE TWO SONS

Season 3: Jesus the Storyteller
Episode 6: “The Two Sons”
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 21:28-32

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tRAOZGACa8 (Living Scriptures)

“John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him...you refused to believe him and repent of your sins’’ (Matthew 21:32).

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day thought they were better than everyone else and that God liked them best. They looked down on people who didn’t follow God’s laws. They assumed that their religion earned them a reward with God. Jesus told them they had it all wrong. What mattered was recognizing that without God they weren’t any better off than anyone else. They needed to ask God’s forgiveness and live to obey Him, not simply keeping up appearances.

They were like the son who agreed to go to work for the father, but then didn’t. Saying the right things isn’t enough if we don’t live what we say we believe. The other son who initially refused are like people who initially refuse to obey God’s laws–the people that the religious leaders looked down on as being ‘sinful’; however, if they are like the other son who asked for forgiveness and then obeyed his father, they will be the ones to receive a reward in heaven.

Think about it...

• In this story the father needed help. What work does God want us to help Him do?

• The son who agreed to go, didn’t. Why was this wrong?

• The son who said he wouldn’t go, did. Why was he rewarded?

• The religious leaders thought they needed to keep up appearances for God to be pleased with them. What did Jesus tell them really makes God happy?

Prayer: Thank you, God, that you love us and have work for us to do. Help us to love and care for other people the way you want us to. Help us to be ready and willing to tell other people about Jesus.