Tabor Baptist Church

Overview

• Jesus had come into the temple and drove out those buying and selling
• The children started crying out Hosanna
• The pharisees were not happy with this, they questioned His authority
• Jesus silenced them with an excellent question
• He then teaches two parables: the two sons and the landowner

The parable of the two sons

• Is about the pharisees
• The pharisees are like the son who only payed lip service
• The tax collectors and harlots are like the son who did obey

We are going to look at two things

• Those who rejected
• Those who accepted and followed

Those who reject:

• It is difficult to break free from 'religion' and tradition
• The Jews had added so much tradition to their religion but they were actually turning away from the Bible
• Illustration from the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
• Jesus is asking the Pharisees to analyse which son they were
• Illustration from the parable of the Wedding feast and the excuses they gave after initially saying yes, but then changed their minds
• All their 'can nots' were really 'will nots'
• What is holding us back?
• King Agrippa said 'you almost persuade me'
• What kept him back?
• There is a cost to becoming a Christian
• But God promises never to leave or forsake you
• Some people are afraid that they won't be able to keep 'things up'
• Which are you

Those who follow:

• The apostle Paul who initially rejected God
• The prodigal son who initially rejects his father (Luke 15:11-32)
• Some people think that they have gone beyond the grace of God
•     This is not true, no one is beyond the grace of God
• John Newton: a womaniser, involved in the slave trade; but his life was transformed by God
•     He became a great hymn writer and man of the church
•     He penned the song 'Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me'
• Mary Magdala and the demon possessed man
• Sometimes it is the people that you least expect
• Zacheus the tax collector who worked for the Romans

Closing:

• Religion is never enough (it can be very dangerous to the soul)
• Christ wants the heart
• Good intentions are not enough
• We must respond to the call that goes out now: Follow Him