The Parable of the Two Sons
No fixed feast day in the calendar
Flip the card and scan the QR code on the back to open it in the app
One son says no but then goes to work; the other says yes but never goes: who did his father’s will?
What is this parable?
Jesus told this parable in the Temple in Jerusalem, to the chief priests and elders, the leaders of the people (cf. Mt 21:23, 28-32). They were questioning by what authority he taught, and before that they had not believed John the Baptist when he called people to repent (cf. Mt 21:32).
The story
Jesus asked: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons.” (Mt 21:28). He told the first one to go and work in the vineyard today. The son answered: “I will not,” but afterward he was sorry and went (cf. Mt 21:29). The father told the second son the same thing. He answered: “Yes, sir,” but then did not go (cf. Mt 21:30).
The Lord asked: which of the two sons did his father’s will? They answered: “The first.” (Mt 21:31). The Lord said that tax collectors and people thought of as sinners would enter the Kingdom of God before them, because those people had believed John and repented (cf. Mt 21:31-32).
The card imagines the first son picking grapes, the father watching him happily, and the other son sitting in the shade; these details were added by the artist to make the story easy to understand.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
The Lord does not only want nice words; he wants deeds. The parable does not praise the first son for refusing; the Lord praises him because he was sorry and changed his mind. Everyone gets things wrong sometimes, but we can always come back. The one who promises and does not do it is like someone who prays and goes to Mass but does not live what they believe. Best of all is to say yes and do it right away, as Jesus always did the will of the Father.
A lesson for you
- When your parents ask you to do something, say yes and do it right away; do not promise and then leave it.
- If you have talked back, be sorry, apologize and go and do it.
- Live your faith with your actions: help at home and work hard at school.
Identifying marks
- A son cutting bunches of grapes and putting them in a basket: he had refused, but he was sorry and went to work; what God wants is a change of heart and deeds.
- The father leaning on a wooden gate, smiling at his son: God rejoices when a child comes back to do his will.
- The second son sitting in the shade, chin in his hand: a nice promise that is not kept is useless.
- A vineyard heavy with fruit, a full basket of grapes: the Lord’s vineyard needs workers, and he is inviting you too.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About