Matthew 21:30 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 21:30 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.”

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered: I go, sir, but did not go. The second son who says yes and does not go is the image of the religious leaders: those who profess covenant faithfulness but reject the repentance that John called for.

Church Fathers on Matthew 21:30

Thus much prefaced, the Lord brings forward a parable, to convict them of their irreligion, and shew them that the kingdom of God should be transferred to the Gentiles.
Jerome · 4th century

Those who are to be judged in this cause, He applies to as judges, that condemning themselves they might be shewn to be unworthy to be acquitted by any other. It is high confidence of the justness of a cause, that will entrust it to the decision of an adversary. But He veils the allusion to them in a parable, that they might not perceive that they were passing sentence upon themselves; 'A certain man had two sons.' Who is he but God, who created all men, who being by nature…
Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

Whence we may gather, that in this parable the Lord spoke to such as promise little or nothing, but in their works shine forth; and against those who promise great things but do none of these things that they have promised.
Origen · 3rd century

Read all 16 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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