Jesús les dijo: De cierto os digo, que los publicanos y las rameras van delante de vosotros al reino de Dios (Mateo 21:31)
Los principales sacerdotes y ancianos de Israel eran inteligentes. Como astutos políticos, el mantener el equilibrio entre sus privilegios y posición y el apoyo popular era su objetivo. Ante los milagros y enseñanzas de Jesús, le cuestionan por el origen de su autoridad. Jesús les reta. El bautismo de Juan, ¿de donde era?¿del cielo o de los hombres?
Era común en el Antiguo Israel que los maestros actuaran como mensajeros con la autoridad de alguien superior. Juan el Bautista, este profeta que llamaba al lavamiento de los pecados ante la inminente venida del Reino, sufrió con su vida el llevar hasta el final su ministerio. La voz que clamaba en el desierto, estaba preparando el camino del Señor, de Jesús.
¿Quiénes estaban siguiendo el camino de Dios? ¿ los líderes de Israel, los sacerdotes y ancianos, los que conocían las profecías mesiánicas? O, en cambio, ¿los publicanos, las prostitutas y los marginados sociales?
En este contexto Jesús les presenta a los ancianos y líderes de la nación y también a ti hoy la parábola de los dos hijos.
El Señor llamó, en primer lugar, a uno de sus hijos, a los gentiles, a los marginados, a los olvidados del mundo, a los pecadores, a su viña, a su reino. Hijo, ve hoy a trabajar a mi viña. Airado con su Padre, le respondió que no lo deseaba, mas, despúes, habiéndose percatado de su maldad, arrepentido fue.
El Señor, a continuación, llama a su hijo predilecto, a Israel, a los ancianos y líderes de la nación, a los criados como sus fieles seguidores, a los que le llaman de continuo: Señor, Señor. Con la boca, el hijo le dijo: Sí, Señor, iré, mas con sus obras, acabó por no ir.
El que confiesa a Jesús con la boca, se tiene por cristiano fiel, se jacta de ser su seguidor. Él se esfuerza cada domingo en acudir a los medios de Gracia, escucha habitualmente excelentes sermones, ora sin cesar cada día, ayuna cada semana, es irreprochable en cuanto a la justicia externa. Hace bien a su prójimo, ayuda al necesitado y, en definitiva, realiza todo lo bueno que cree que puede agradar a Dios. Ora como el fariseo diciendo: Dios, te doy gracias porque no soy como los otros hombres, ladrones, injustos, adúlteros, ni aun como este publicano; ayuno dos veces a la semana, doy diezmos de todo lo que gano.(Lucas 18:11-12)
De cara al mundo es un discípulo fiel. Si alguien se asombra de este buen hombre, yo hoy te digo que puede que aún así esté lejos de la verdadera santidad. ¡Cuán lejos puede estar este fiel hombre del Reino de los cielos, pese a que cumple con todas las ordenanzas exteriores!
En su corazón no ama al Señor con todo su corazón, con toda su alma y toda su mente. En su interior, mira por encima del hombro a los publicanos y prostitutas, a aquellos que viven muertos al pecado, apartados de Dios. De su boca sale agua dulce de alabanza a Dios y amarga de pecado contra el prójimo. Se tiene por superior y teme que los demás vean que es solo un sepulcro blanqueado: bello por fuera, pero sucio por dentro. El Señor le responderá: apártate de mi, no te conozco.
Mas Señor, yo expulsé demonios en tu nombre, profeticé en tu nombre, te confesé delante de los hombres, ¿por qué me dices que no me conoces?
El Señor le responderá: No todo el que me dice: «Señor, Señor», entrará en el reino de los cielos (Mateo 7:21)
Bienaventurados los mansos, porque ellos recibirán la tierra por heredad. (Mateo 5:5)
Así que, cualquiera que se humille como este niño, ese es el mayor en el reino de los cielos. (Mateo 18:4)
El hijo fiel aparentemente se sometió a la voluntad de su Padre, pero en su corazón cometió un pecado atroz a los ojos del mundo judío: engañar para desobedecer. El quinto mandamiento: Honrarás a tu Padre y a tu madre, de cara al mundo, en este momento, lo cumplió, pero en su corazón estaba siendo peor que un publicano o un homicida.
El otro hijo, de cara al mundo, pudo parecer en este momento como un desobediente. Pecaba frente al público. Mas después, sintió un vivo dolor de haber ofendido a su amado Padre y, arrepentido, acudió a la viña, a cumplir con su voluntad. Tuvo la suficiente humidad como para hacer la voluntad de su Padre y no la propia. Es pobre de espíritu; se conoce a sí mismo. Sabe que hasta ese día no ha acudido a los medios de Gracia, no ha oído excelentes sermones, no ha ayunado cada semana. Es consciente que ha vivido para sí y no para los demás. Ve y siente todo su pecado y toda su culpa, hasta que es lavado por la sangre redentora. Es consciente de su condición perdida, de la ira de Dios que permanece sobre él y de su total incapacidad para ayudarse a sí mismo, hasta que es lleno de paz y gozo en el Espíritu Santo.
Ahora, regenerado por la Gracia del Salvador, se ha tornado manso y gentil, paciente con todos los hombres, sin devolver mal por mal, ni insulto por insulto, sino al contrario, bendiciendo, hasta que vence el mal con el bien. Su alma no tiene sed de nada en la tierra, sino solo de Dios, el Dios vivo. Él siente un profundo amor por toda la humanidad y está dispuesto a dar su vida por sus enemigos. Ama, ahora, al Señor su Dios con todo su corazón, con toda su mente, alma y fuerzas. Ha experimentado el paso de muerte a vida.
Jesús se acercó a las prostitutas y a los publicanos y los llamó por su nombre. Venid a mi, sois perdonados, id en paz para no pecar más. Los sucios se humillaron, reconociendo su maldad y adelantaron en santidad a los puros que tenían en sus labios día y noche a Dios, mas que su corazón, su amor, estaban lejos del Creador.
¿Qué debemos hacer, entonces, para entrar al reino de los cielos?
Conócete a ti mismo. Reconoce tu maldad y que en pecado te concibió tu madre. Examínate diariamente para saber como el aguijón del pecado te ataca.
Llorad por vuestros pecados y lamentaos ante Dios. Él te perdonará. Mirad los cielos abiertos y ganados por Cristo para ti. Contempla la mansión eterna preparada de antemano por Jesús.
Anda conforme al Espíritu en es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fe, mansedumbre, templanza (Gálatas 5:22). No sigas una mera religión externa, pobre, llena de apariencias, pero con un corazón muerto, terrenal y sensual. Ahora Dios tiene morada en ti, puedes verlo sin el velo del pecado para, llegado el momento, sentarte en lugares celestiales con Cristo Jesús.
Como sientes el amor de Dios para contigo, ama a tu prójimo como a ti mismo. Refrena tu lengua de todo comentario que no sea de edificación. Haz bien a todos los que te rodean. Confiesa a Jesús con tu boca, cumpliendo la voluntad de su Padre, para ser recibido en su reino.
Concede, Señor, que nuestro corazón se alinee con nuestra boca; enséñanos a examinarnos día a día para conocer nuestras fallas y arrepentirnos de ellas; líbranos, Señor, de lengua mentirosa y labio engañador. Haz que nuestra religión sea tu santa y pura religión no solo exterior sino también interior y que, renovados por tu Gracia, podamos servirte fielmente todos los días de nuestra vida.
Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.”
Matthew 21:31, NKJV
The chief priests and the elders of Israel were intelligent men. Like clever politicians, their goal was to maintain a balance between their privileges and position and the support of the people. When they saw the miracles of Jesus and heard His teaching, they questioned Him about the source of His authority. Jesus challenged them: “The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
It was common in ancient Israel for teachers to act as messengers who carried the authority of someone greater than themselves. John the Baptist was such a messenger. He was the prophet who called people to repentance and to the washing away of their sins because the coming of the Kingdom was near. John suffered with his life because he carried his ministry all the way to the end. The voice crying in the wilderness was preparing the way of the Lord, the way of Jesus.
Who, then, was following the way of God? Was it the leaders of Israel, the priests and elders, those who knew the Messianic prophecies? Or, instead, was it the tax collectors, the prostitutes, and the people who had been rejected and pushed aside by society?
In this context, Jesus presents to the elders and leaders of the nation, and also to you today, the parable of the two sons.
The Lord first called one of His sons: the Gentiles, the outcasts, the forgotten people of the world, the sinners. He called them to His vineyard, to His Kingdom: “Son, go and work today in my vineyard.” Angry with his father, the son answered that he did not want to go. But later, having realized his wickedness, he repented and went.
Then the Lord called His beloved son: Israel, the elders and leaders of the nation, those who had been raised as His faithful followers, those who continually called Him, “Lord, Lord.” With his mouth, the son said, “Yes, Lord, I will go,” but by his actions he ended up not going.
The person who confesses Jesus with his mouth and considers himself a faithful Christian may boast of being His follower. He makes every effort to attend the means of grace every Sunday, regularly listens to excellent sermons, prays without ceasing every day, fasts every week, and is blameless as far as outward righteousness is concerned. He does good to his neighbor, helps those in need, and, in short, does everything good that he believes might please God. He prays like the Pharisee: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” Luke 18:11–12, NKJV
In the eyes of the world, he is a faithful disciple. But today I tell you that, even so, he may still be far from true holiness. How far can this faithful man be from the Kingdom of Heaven, even though he keeps all the outward commandments and religious practices?
In his heart, he does not love the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind. Inside, he looks down on tax collectors and prostitutes, on those who live dead in sin and separated from God. From his mouth comes sweet water when he praises God and bitter water when he sins against his neighbor with his words. He considers himself superior to others and fears that people will discover that he is only a whitewashed tomb: beautiful on the outside, but filthy within. The Lord will say to him, “Depart from Me; I do not know you.”
“But Lord, I cast out demons in Your name, I prophesied in Your name, I confessed You before men. Why do You say that You do not know me?” The Lord will answer: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21, NKJV
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5, NKJV
“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4, NKJV
The faithful son apparently submitted himself to the will of his father, but in his heart he committed a terrible sin, especially in the eyes of the Jewish world: he deceived his father in order to disobey him. The Fifth Commandment says, “Honor your father and your mother.” Outwardly, at that moment, he appeared to fulfill it, but in his heart he was worse than a tax collector or even a murderer.
The other son, outwardly, may have appeared to be disobedient. He was sinning openly before the people. But later, he felt deep sorrow because he had offended his beloved father and, having repented, he went to the vineyard to do his father’s will. He had enough humility to do the will of his father instead of his own. He is poor in spirit; he knows himself. He knows that until that day he had not come to the means of grace, he had not heard excellent sermons, and he had not fasted every week. He is aware that he had lived for himself and not for others. He sees and feels all his sin and all his guilt until he is washed by the redeeming blood of Christ. He becomes aware of his lost condition, of the wrath of God that remains upon him, and of his complete inability to help himself, until he is filled with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Now, regenerated by the grace of the Savior, he has become meek and gentle, patient with all men, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but, on the contrary, blessing others, until he overcomes evil with good. His soul no longer thirsts for anything on earth, but only for God, the living God. He feels a deep love for all humanity and is willing to give his life for his enemies. Now he loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his mind, with all his soul, and with all his strength. He has experienced the passage from death to life.
Jesus came near to prostitutes and tax collectors and called them by name. “Come to Me; you are forgiven. Go in peace and sin no more.” The unclean humbled themselves, recognizing their wickedness, and advanced in holiness beyond those who appeared pure, who had God on their lips day and night, but whose hearts and love were far from their Creator.
What, then, must we do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Know yourself. Recognize your wickedness and recognize that your mother conceived you in sin. Examine yourself every day so that you may know how the sting of sin attacks you.
Weep over your sins and mourn before God. He will forgive you. Look up and see the heavens opened and won for you by Christ. Contemplate the eternal dwelling that Jesus prepared beforehand for you.
Walk according to the Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23, NKJV
Do not follow a merely outward religion, poor and full of appearances, but with a heart that is dead, earthly, and sensual. Now God dwells in you, and you can see Him without the veil of sin, so that, when the time comes, you may sit in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus.
As you experience the love of God toward you, love your neighbor as yourself. Restrain your tongue from every word that does not build others up. Do good to everyone around you. Confess Jesus with your mouth, doing the will of His Father, so that you may be received into the heavenly dwelling.
The question, therefore, is not simply what you say with your lips. The question is what God has done in your heart. One son said, “No,” but repented and went. The other said, “Yes,” but never went. One appeared righteous but was disobedient in his heart; the other appeared disobedient but humbled himself, repented, and obeyed.
Therefore, do not trust in appearances. Do not trust in your religious reputation. Do not trust in your prayers, your fasting, your knowledge, your church attendance, or your good works as though these things could save you. Trust in Christ. Run to Christ. Fall before Christ. Repent before Christ. Be washed in the blood of Christ.
Grant, O Lord, that our hearts may be in agreement with our mouths. Teach us to examine ourselves day by day, so that we may know our faults and repent of them. Deliver us, O Lord, from a lying tongue and a deceitful mouth. Make our religion Your holy and pure religion, not merely outward, but inward also; and, having been renewed by Your grace, may we serve You faithfully all the days of our lives.