#013 He Changed His Mind And Went (Matthew 21)
Christian, how would you define the word ‘repentance?’
It’s one of those Bible words that Christians use a lot, but do we really have a good grasp on what it means? Is it being sorry about our sin and having a sense of regret about it? Or is it being sad about our sin, upset by what it says about us?
The word translated as repent in the New Testament is a Greek word, metanoia.
Literally; a change of mind.
And Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 21 which explains exactly what that looks like in practice. The highlights of the parable are this:
A father gives his two sons the same instruction: go and work in the vineyard today.
The first son’s response seems outrageous at first. He says ‘I will not’. An impudent, terse response with a hint of contempt.
The second son seems rather more amenable and obedient. He replies ‘I will, sir.’
Yet, it’s interesting how this parable plays out!
The second son, who cheerfully agreed to work in the vineyard, didn’t go!
The first son, however… Though initially he said no (which is at least honest), as we read v29 ‘…afterwards he changed his mind and went.’
It’s a perfect picture of repentance and a great working definition to have in our minds for what repentance means and what it looks like: he changed his mind and went.
In the Bible that’s what repentance means for us. A change of mind that brings about a change of life!
There is a place for being sorry about our sin. There is a place for being sad about our sin.
But what repentance is, is a change of mind.
A change of mind that submits to God, that gives God the benefit of the doubt. A change of mind that agrees to believe what God tells us to believe and live how God tells us to live!
Our repentance doesn’t need to be perfect in motive or application to be acceptable to God. The first son clearly didn’t want a day in the vineyard to begin with. But in the end I bet he was glad he changed his mind and went.
It’s one of those Bible words that Christians use a lot, but do we really have a good grasp on what it means? Is it being sorry about our sin and having a sense of regret about it? Or is it being sad about our sin, upset by what it says about us?
The word translated as repent in the New Testament is a Greek word, metanoia.
Literally; a change of mind.
And Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 21 which explains exactly what that looks like in practice. The highlights of the parable are this:
A father gives his two sons the same instruction: go and work in the vineyard today.
The first son’s response seems outrageous at first. He says ‘I will not’. An impudent, terse response with a hint of contempt.
The second son seems rather more amenable and obedient. He replies ‘I will, sir.’
Yet, it’s interesting how this parable plays out!
The second son, who cheerfully agreed to work in the vineyard, didn’t go!
The first son, however… Though initially he said no (which is at least honest), as we read v29 ‘…afterwards he changed his mind and went.’
It’s a perfect picture of repentance and a great working definition to have in our minds for what repentance means and what it looks like: he changed his mind and went.
In the Bible that’s what repentance means for us. A change of mind that brings about a change of life!
There is a place for being sorry about our sin. There is a place for being sad about our sin.
But what repentance is, is a change of mind.
A change of mind that submits to God, that gives God the benefit of the doubt. A change of mind that agrees to believe what God tells us to believe and live how God tells us to live!
Our repentance doesn’t need to be perfect in motive or application to be acceptable to God. The first son clearly didn’t want a day in the vineyard to begin with. But in the end I bet he was glad he changed his mind and went.
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