It’s been said that Chevrolet should have never stopped making the 1963 pickup because there was nothing wrong with it. Why did they stop making it? There have been innovations and changes since then—and we could argue whether those changes were for the better or not. Maybe we could argue that if Chevy had continued making the ’63 then they wouldn’t be in the trouble they are in now.

Why did Jesus talk in parables? As we’ve seen over the last few weeks, it was partly because in story Jesus could tell us things we might not understand otherwise.

Matthew 13:13-17

On rare occasions, our dog will come over to where I am and look at what I’m doing as if trying to figure out what I’m doing. Especially if I have a tool in my hand. If I’m carrying a wrench or a hammer he’ll follow me to my project and watch me do whatever. And for a dog who runs at the sound of a vacuum cleaner, he actually comes closer when I’m using a drill or a power saw. He is, for some reason, fascinated by tools.

Let’s just launch right into the parable this week …

Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to them, “What do you think? A man had two sons. The man came to the first son and said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘Yes sir,’ but he did not go. Then the man went to the second son and said the same thing. The son answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ but later changed his mind and went. Which of the two sons did what their father wanted?”
The Jewish leaders answered, “The second one.”