This week’s gospel passage is one of many within Matthew’s gospel that show Jesus at odds with the religious authorities of his day. The picture of the religious leaders that comes through Matthew’s gospel is one of hypocrisy. Jesus is frequently portrayed as criticising the leaders for holding too strongly to the letter of the law and ignoring the spirit of the law and the call to compassion. This week’s passage has Jesus seeking the opinion of the chief priests and elders on a hypothetical situation (a common style of debating a point of law in the Jewish tradition). He describes two sons, each asked by their father to go and work in the family vineyard. The first says ‘No’ but later does his father’s bidding. The second says ‘Yes’ but doesn’t follow through on his commitment.' 

Jesus is criticising the religious leaders of his time who, with their words, said ‘Yes’ to God but by their actions said ‘No’. In many ways, it is easy to say ‘Yes’ and not really mean it. Some people do it all the time in their lives. They say ‘Yes’ when they have no intention at all of following through on their commitment. It’s easy to say ‘Yes’ and not mean it when it comes to faith as well. It’s pretty easy to turn up at Church on a Sunday and be seen to be doing the ‘right’ thing. But if our faith doesn’t change the way we live, then maybe we’re really saying ‘No’ to God.