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In the Bible, we find two parables which are both about [[two sons]]. The first one is found in Matthew 21.

[[Jesus]] tells the parable of the [[two sons]] in Matthew in response to the questioning of the authority of Jesus as [[Christ]] by the "chief priests and the elders of the people" in the temple. They wanted to know by what authority he was doing what he did.

What Jesus did was come to Jerusalem and on his entry He was treated as king and hailed as the ''highest son of David''.<Ref>Matthew 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.</Ref> Such treatment and claim would make him the unquestionable king of Judea. 

He then goes and fires the '''[[moneychangers]]''' in the temple casting them out which<Ref>Matthew 21:12 ¶ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the [[moneychangers]], and the seats of them that sold doves,</Ref> was something only the king could do since the days of David.

In [[Mark 11]] he imposes commands on activities within the temple.<Ref>Mark 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry [any] vessel through the temple.</Ref> and in [[John 8]]<Ref>John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.</Ref> we see Jesus is giving instructions in the ''royal treasury''<Ref>{{1049}}</Ref>.

Jesus' condemnation of the [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] was reiterated by the accusation directed toward the "chief priests and scribes" in the temple saying that they had "made it a den of thieves".<Ref>Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.</Ref>

This chapter also tells the story of the fig tree that Jesus cause to wither because it bore no fruit.<Ref>Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.</Ref> 

Jesus has literally taken over the [[kingdom of God]] in Jerusalem as the rightful king of Judea which he continues to proclaim in verse 43 because they were not bearing [[fruit]].<Ref>Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The [[kingdom of God]] shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.</Ref>

This parable of the two sons is about the ''chief [[priests]] and [[Pharisees]]'' who claimed to be doing the will of the Father in heaven. But they were neither doing what God said nor were they doing what [[Moses]] had said for Israel to do. If they actually knew [[Moses]] they would have known Jesus.<Ref>John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.</Ref>   We know the parable was about them because scripture tells so.<Ref>Matthew 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.</Ref>

Unfortunately, the same is true of many who claim to be Christians and followers of Christ. No one earns salvation but if you truly believe in the real Jesus then you should be doing what He said to do.

We can see Jesus [[appoint]] the kingdom to his [[Little flock]] in [[Luke 22]] verse 29.<Ref>Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;</Ref>

The [[Pharisees]] were the first son because they claimed to do the will of the [[Father]] and His Prophet [[Moses]] but they were not attending to the [[weightier matters]] and had set up and were dependent upon [[Herod]]'s [[socialist]] system of [[Corban]] which was ''making the word of God to none effect'' and not bearing [[fruit]].  

[[John the Baptist]] had told the people to stop the [[covetous practices]] of [[force|forcing]] the contributions of the people like all the other [[governments]] of the [[world]] and learn to depend upon charity alone for their [[daily ministration|daily bread]] and [[welfare]].

The "publicans and the harlots" and thousands of other Jews expressed their faith in Jesus by starting to [[repent]] of the [[covet]]ous [[welfare]] system of the [[world]] and sit down in the [[tens]], in ranks of hundred and more as [[commanded]] by Christ.


Christ made it clear in this ''parable of two sons''<Ref>[[Matthew 21]]:28 "But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons..."</Ref> that the true son is not the one who ''says he will'' do his father's will in homage but the one who actually does it. If you are not doing what Christ said to do, which is the will of the  [[Father]], or if you are doing something contrary to what He said, then saying ''Lord Lord'' is not true ''[[worship]]''.<Ref>[[Matthew 7]]:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
: [[Matthew 7]]:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
: [[Matthew 25]]:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
: [[Luke 6]]:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
: [[Luke 13]]:25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:</Ref>

The [[modern Christian]] who justify their [[covetous practices]] and dependence upon the [[benefits]] offered by men who ''[[exercise authority]] one over the other'' may claim a relationship with Jesus but are they really following Christ?  As long as they are willing to [[force]] the contributions of their neighbors then by their works we know they are in need of [[repent]]ance. If the people will not sit down in the [[tens]] in ranks of a hundred and ranks of a thousand to ''practice [[pure Religion]] unspotted'' by the ''[[fathers]] of the earth'' and the [[benefactors]] of the [[world]] then they are not like the [[early Church]] and have not really [[repent]]ed nor should they ''imagine'' that they are following Christ.

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[[Matthew 21]]:28 "But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."



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The other parable of the two sons includes the story of the '''prodigal''' son.

{{prodigal}}

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[[Luke 15]]:11 ¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

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== Footnotes ==

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