"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard." (Matthew 21:28)
Who is the "certain man"?
The "certain man" is God the Father.
What do the two sons symbolize?
The first son is the Gentiles, harlots, and publicans. This is because, although they did not have the truth at the beginning and were sinners, they accepted the faith when it was given to them, as did the first son, who refused at first and later obeyed. The second son, who said "I go but did not go, is the Jews, who had the promise from the beginning but did not keep it and fell away.
What did Christ use this parable to teach the Jews?
He was showing the Pharisees that the harlots and publicans and sinners would enter into the kingdom of heaven before them, as the sinners accepted St. John and the truth when it was come, while they rejected it and sought only after their own power.
"Thus much prefaced, the Lord brings forward a parable, to convict them of their irreligion, and show them that the kingdom of God should be transferred to the Gentiles." (St Jerome)
By answering Jesus' question, what do the Jews do to themselves?
The Jews, by their own words pronounced judgement on themselves: "Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." (Matthew 21:31)
What does working in the vineyard indicate?
To work in the vineyard is to do righteousness.
How may the parable be understood in general sense?
"Whence others think that the parable does not relate to Gentiles and Jews, but simply to the righteous and to sinners. These by their evil deeds had rejected God's service, but after received from John the baptism of repentance; while the Pharisees who made a show of righteousness, and boasted that they did the law of God, despising John's baptism, did not follow his precepts." (St. Jerome)
Name a famous publican who became an Apostle.
Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist was a former publican.
Name a famous harlot who anointed Jesus' feet and saw his greatest miracle in His earthly ministry.
Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus, was a former harlot, and one who anointed Jesus' feet before his crucifixion.
"Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia." (1 Corinthians 16:5)
Where is Macedonia?
Macedonia is in Asia Minor.
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