A Most Agreeable Child

Today's Text: Matthew 21:28-32

Profound. With crystal clear simplicity Jesus brings truth up from the bottom of the pile of human deception. Lent asks for careful self-examination.  This parable functions like a long needle piercing us to take a biopsy of our motivations.

Eddie Haskell developed the vocabulary and manners to manipulate the adults in his world.  His friends saw through the lies.  The adult egos stroked and soothed by his compliments preferred to believe in the facade.  But enter Eddie's head.  What did Eddie think about himself?  What if we find Eddie tendencies influencing our relationships?

The parable centers on the question of obedience.  Many times in Christian conversation we hear someone ask something like, "...but doesn't God look at our hearts and care more about whether we love him than how perfectly we obey him?"  It depends.

The Father may not be concerned with how perfectly the sons pruned the vines. However, the parable implies that the Father prefers rebellious words and grudging obedience to agreeable words and rebellious actions.  In Isaiah, God says "the people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me."  James asks us what good it is to just "claim" faith without obedient deeds to back our claim.

In relationships with God and people each one of us must ask, "In what ways do I try to maintain favor with affectionate words and hope to avoid the consequences of disobedience?"