Title: THE FAMILY OF GOD

Focus: Our heavenly Father holds before us a snapshot picture of us-his family. And by means of that picture, God addresses two common actions or character flaws found in the family of God—the “nay” sayers and the “yea” sayers.

Function: To encourage the people to examine their actions as family members of God’s household, the church.

Text: Matthew 21:28-32

It’s fun to go through old photo albums and sort through the snapshot pictures of siblings, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents alike. It’s also instructive and telling to study the features of family members in those pictures.

For example, I have some vivid memories of my grandfather. He was a simple guy, but he had a strong personality and character traits. That personality and those character traits shine through in these old snapshot pictures of my grandfather. Snapshot pictures of loved ones, then, can be very instructive for family members and friends alike.

In the Gospel reading today, our heavenly Father holds before us a snapshot picture of us—his family. And by means of that picture, God reveals two common actions or character flaws found in the family of God—the “nay” sayers and the “yea” sayers. As we take a look at these snapshot pictures, I encourage each one of us to examine our hearts as family members of God’s household, the church.

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As we look at the text, I must begin with the observation that God holds before us a snapshot picture. We are NOT looking at a complete family portrait. As Jesus describes the snapshot picture, we notice that he points to a father. That father has two sons: the one is a “nay” sayer; the other a “yea” sayer. Both, however, in their own ways are rebels in the household of that father. We also learn about the business of that father: he has a vineyard. And he has plenty of work for his sons to do in the vineyard.

The father in the story points to God the Father; the vineyard refers to God’s kingdom or rule on earth. And it’s clear from Jesus’ parable or snapshot picture that God wants his children to be actively involved and engaged in producing fruit (they must work in the vineyard and do their Father’s bidding), so that the mission of God will advance in the world. The two rebel sons represent a segment of God’s family: The “nay”sayer son represents the prostitutes and tax collectors; and the “yea” sayer son represents the religious leaders in Jesus’ days.

Thus we are looking at a snapshot picture. The rest of God’s family portrait, for example, is found elsewhere in the Scriptures. You see,God’s family also includes obedient sons and daughters, who willingly and wholeheartedly do their heavenly Father’s bidding.

In fact, God’s family portrait includes all kinds of people and that family of God is so large that the apostle Peter can say to all who believe in Christ and follow him: (I Peter 2:9ff) “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

The family of God is the church, made up of Jews and Gentiles, men and women and children who belong to God. And the family of God includes not only repentant (and unrepentant) “nay” and “yea” sayers, but also forgiven sinners who eagerly, passionately, and humbly serve their heavenly Father here on earth, producing fruit and spreading the business or influence of God in this world.

They do not show up in this snapshot picture shown by Jesus. In fact, you know who else does not appear in this snapshot picture? The head of the family—Jesus himself—is not in the picture. The eternal Son of God, who took on our flesh, and who has given his life as a ransom for us, stays in the background. Of him, the writer of Hebrews tell us (Hebr. 3:6) that “Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”

So, let it be clear: Jesus’ parable is not a family portrait, but a snapshot of the church. And by means of that snapshot God addresses two common actions or character flaws found among God’s people.

When John the Baptizer began preaching that God’s heavenly rule was coming to Israel and the world, John called people to repent from their sins and to turn their hearts to Christ, the lamb of God who takes away our sins.

Now the religious leaders were looking for the Christ (the Messiah) to come. But they did not accept the message of John the Baptizer. They rejected his call to repent and to turn to the Lord Jesus. They are like the “yea” sayer son in the snapshot who says: “I will, sir!” But they did not do their heavenly Father’s bidding.

But the tax collectors and the prostitutes—the people who tend to ignore God’s will and Word, and the people who like to do their own things and pursue their own pleasures—many of those people responded to John’s message of repentance. They are like the “nay” sayer son in the snapshot picture who says: “I will not,” but then changes his mind and sets to do his Father’s business.

I would not be surprised if there are people here who can identify with the “nay” sayer son or the “yea” sayer son. And even if you can’t identify with them completely, you may still be able to identify some of their character traits as your own. I can.

The Lord Jesus holds the snapshot picture before the religious leaders of his day, and he asks them: “Which of the two (sons) did what his father wanted?” They answered, “The first,” that is, the “nay” sayer son who changed his mind and did show up in his father’s vineyard. Then Jesus replied: “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

End of story.

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Not quite! You see, the Lord is encouraging us today to examine our own actions . We are members of God’s household—the church. The snapshot picture of these two family members comes to us with a warning. But you have to probe the snapshot picture and keep in mind the Scriptures’ teaching on repentance.

Take, for example, the “yea” sayers in God’s family. Jesus calls them hypocrites—they do not walk their talk. They know the teachings of the Bible; They make a show of their knowledge on Sundays; they show up for worship in the temple or synagogue or church. But their hearts are not in line with the rhythm of God’s Word. Throughout the rest of the week, the “yea” sayers do not participate in the business of their heavenly Father. They do their own thing.

For “yea” sayers, their religious practice or observance is mostly show or talk, but no action. They tend to be legalists.

Did you notice the response of the “yea” sayer to his father? He said, “I will, sir.” Not “Father” but “sir.” The “yea” sayer son sees himself as a forced laborer, not as a son in God’s family. He thinks of himself as an employee in his father’s business. He acts as if there is a legal arrangement between him and his father; he is a legalist; he fails to show child-like love and obedience.

Here’s the tragedy with this family member in God’s household: “yea” sayers live for themselves; they seek to advance their own “glory” or status. They lack joy because they participate in the family as legalists or employees. And they fail to advance or promote our heavenly Father’s mission in this world.

They say they are on their Father’s side; but they show by their absence in the vineyard that their hearts are elsewhere. They do not sin publicly; like the Pharisees and Scribes, they keep their “noses clean.” But they abandon their Father’s business by their sins of omission—by the things they do not do for their Father in heaven.

Now most of us will not feel much sympathy for this snapshot picture of “yea” sayers in God’s household. We probably are much more sympathetic with the “nay” sayers who come to their senses and show up in their Father’s vineyard. After all, they do end up doing their Father’s bidding.

Yes, it’s true. The snapshot picture of the repentant son is far more presentable or exemplary than the picture of the unrepentant “yea” sayer. But let me echo a warning from Scripture—that we must all take to heart, especially when we see ourselves in this snapshot picture of the “nay” sayer.

No doubt, to the surprise and delight of his father, this rebellious son did show up in his father’s vineyard. He’s back in church. He’s seen the light; he’s changed his mind. No longer will he steal or drink or engage in sexual immorality; from now on he will promote his Father’s will and Word and business. From now on, he (or she) will live like a true Christian, like a faithful family member in the household of God.

But did you notice? This “nay” sayer stood up to his father and said, “I will not.” He deeply offended his father; he stubbornly refused to show love and obedience to his father. He left his father in a huff. He was estranged from his father; and he deeply hurt his father by his sins of disobedience or his lack of commitment to his father’s vineyard.

Now thank God! The “nay” sayer came to his senses. He had a change of heart; he finally realized that living and working in his father’s household and vineyard come with blessings and harmony. So let’s not poo-poo or minimize the “nay” sayer’s change of mind or repentance. Rather, thank God! He has come back home as a vibrant, participating member of God’s family.

But here is my warning from Scripture: This “nay” sayer son went back to the vineyard without saying a word to his Father. Did he apologize to his father? Did he humble himself before his father telling him that he had acted like a jerk, a rebellious son? Did he seek to be in harmony with his father? Did he seek reconciliation? All we know is that he went back to the vineyard to work.

But what about the status of his heart? What about his place in his father’s household? You see, the Scriptures teaches us (Psalm 51, for example) that repentance calls for a contrite spirit, a broken heart; it calls for confession and tears and humility. And if there is no word of pardon from our heavenly Father, the weight of sin and rebellion will continue to drag us down. There needs to be reconciliation between the Father and us, so that we can live and work in his household with joy and harmony and with peace in our hearts.

Here’s my concern: if “nay” sayers change their mind and go back to the father’s vineyard, but do not seek reconciliation and forgiveness from their heavenly Father, they may end up with bitter hearts, with hardened hearts. Bitter and hardened hearts tend to produce resentment, and the resentment will lead to half-heartedness and eventually to full-blown rebellion.

So what are we to do? All God’s people—the “nay” sayers and “yea” sayers and all the others who gladly serve in God’s household quietly and humbly—all of us need to turn on a daily basis to the head of the family—the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the faithful Son in God’s household.

He bore our sins on the cross; he sets us free from the guilt of sin; he empowers us with the gift of his Holy Spirit. He produces within us the grace by which we can bear fruit in our Father’s vineyard: fruit such as, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. “Abide in me, and I in you,” Jesus said to his disciples. It is Jesus Christ who enables us to live and flourish in the church and do our heavenly Father’s bidding.

Glory be to God! Now and forever! Amen.