The parable sets before us two case histories of human responses to God; it describes us all. We are in a sense like one of these two sons. We may not be sons in the deepest sense – we may not yet have been adopted into God’s family through faith in Christ – but we are not beasts, and we are made by him. We have faculties that the animals do not possess. There is a sense in which God calls all men; there is an awareness in all of us that we are accountable to him, and there is no one of sound mind who has not had awareness of God. Nevertheless, in our natural state we are not sons enough to go to heaven; we must enter into the vineyard; we must be converted. The two sons represent two quite different kinds of hearers. One son is stubborn and will not go to work, but the other seems more gracious – ‘I go, sir’ – but changes his mind and doesn’t go. This is the essence of the parable.
The immediate application was to those of Christ’s day. The first son who refuses stands for the prostitutes and tax collectors, thrown out of the temple and outcasts from Israel, those who outright rejected God. These appeared more obviously to be rebels. The Pharisees on the other hand, represented by the second son, claimed to be in sympathy with the kingdom and put on an appearance of complying with God’s commandments, but they did not obey from the heart, and never truly entered in. But that is not the only application. There is redemption in all the parables, more than just the immediate situation of Christ’s day. The Gentiles rejected the message of God for generations, while Israel was supposedly his people. But the majority in Israel never truly belonged to God, and the coming of the Saviour heralded the gospel being sent into all the world, and converted Gentiles became instructors of even of Jews. The parable also applies to all who are religious in outward form but who do not love God from their hearts. These will be overtaken by other who went far from the Lord before they were brought to real conversion.
The gospel addresses us with affection even though we are strangers to grace and rebels against God. Why does God not thunder the words, ‘Evil sinner, turned to me or else’? Instead he gives us a loving call to turn away from our self-centred life. This world pushes you around, only God is sympathetic. Even though we are sinners, yet he appeals to us. You are shut out of my kingdom, but come, trusting in the Saviour. ‘Come and receive pardon for all your sin, and the gift of eternal life; I will give you all blessings freely’, says the Lord. The vineyard represents the kingdom of God? It is so glorious: that company of people that God has brought to himself. By entering in you are forgiven. What a wonderful thing! We cannot earn or deserve it. It is about having a spiritual status – sons and daughters of God. Oh to be a child of God, adopted! How can I deserve it? I can’t. But I may come freely. We cannot deserve the love of God, but all in his kingdom are loved by him. It is the finest college in the world. The mind is emancipated, and we understand his word in great measure. We were in the grip of sin. Now sin no longer rules us. Now there is some fight in us and many sins are put behind us. We have communion with him and pray and are assured he hears us. We are brothers and sisters together. We will see the Lord. No wonder those who belong to God’s kingdom have less dread of death. It is a place of amazing discovery. Who would not long to be a member of that?
Does the parable mean that we should go and work, and earn salvation? No. Salvation is free. This therefore is pleasant work, almost like a hobby. God does not say, improve yourself five hundred percent, and I will receive you. No, he sends us to work where the yoke will be easy and the burden will be light. What does it mean to enter the vineyard? It means to repent, trust in Christ, and receive his mercy.