OUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS

PROCLAMATION

“What do you think?  There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’  ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.  Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.  Which of the two did what his father wanted?”  Matthew 21:28-29 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, they stopped in the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus sent two of his disciples to find a donkey and her young colt and bring them to Him. (Matthew 21:1-7)  Jesus sat on the donkey and her colt and rode them into town.  A very large crowd had followed them, and the people placed their cloaks and palm leaves on the road in front of them as they went into town.  As they went, the people shouted “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:7-9)  When they entered Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple and drove out the money changers and the sellers of doves. (Matthew 21:10-13)  The blind and the lame came to Him while He was in the temple and He healed them.  When the chief priests and the teachers of the law heard the shouts and saw the things that He did, they were displeased. (Matthew 21:14-15)  He taught the people the parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) and the parable of The Tenants. (Matthew 21:33-40)  Then He quoted the Scriptures to them regarding the stone which the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22 and Matthew 21:42)

APPLICATION

“Our actions speak louder than our words.”  People frequently say one thing and then do another.  In this case it is better to say, “I will not” and then do it, than to say, “I will do it” and then don’t.  Here the rebel is brought to repentance and becomes the servant, while the formal one who agreed grows hard-hearted and rebels.  Unfortunately, many people today are like the second son, they join the church and observe religious rituals, but they are not Christ-like.  Our  words count but our behavior is more important.  It is better to stand up for, and to do that which is right.  Don’t be like one in the fickle crowd, who are shouting “Hosanna!” one day, (Matthew 21:9) and then the next week are shouting “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:22-23)  We will be judged by the words that we speak, (Matthew 12:36) but we will be rewarded or punished by our works. (2 Corinthians 11:15 and Revelation 22:12)