Actions Speak Louder than Words

What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-31).

Words are powerful tools, but actions send a message loud and clear. If your actions don’t match your words and promises, people will begin to lose trust in you. Benjamin Franklin said, “Well done is better than well said.” Charles Spurgeon said, “It is well to preach as I do, with my lips. But you can all preach with your feet and by your lives, and that is the most effective preaching.”

Jesus told the Chief Priests and Elders a parable to further condemn them in their sinful hypocrisy. It’s a simple parable that is not difficult to understand. The first son represents the publicans and sinners. The second son represents the Chief Priests and Elders. The vineyard is the realm of human life and activity.

While the publicans and sinners were also Jews, the distinction is that the publicans and sinners ignored the principles of spiritual righteousness as contained in Mosaic Law. They received the message of repentance of sin and preparation for the Kingdom of God preached by John (Matthew 3:1-2) and Jesus (Matthew 4:17). They said, in essence, “I will not live a spiritually righteous life as outlined in Mosaic Law,” as evidenced by their lifestyle of sin. But when John and Jesus appeared, they believed their message, repented of sin, and embraced Jesus as Messiah.

The Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees also ignored the principles of spiritual righteousness as contained in Mosaic Law. Their religious orthodoxy did not produce spiritual righteousness, but self-righteousness. They rejected the message of repentance of sin and preparation for the Kingdom of God preached by John and Jesus. They said, in essence, “I will live a spiritually righteous life as outlined in Mosaic Law,” but did not as evidenced by their lifestyle of spiritual hypocrisy. When John and Jesus appeared, they rejected their message, refused to repent of sin, and condemned Jesus to death.

What’s the application? Actions speak louder than words. I have a friend who, when he was about to die, said if Jesus would spare his life, he would come to church, be baptized, and live for Jesus. My friend was delivered from death, but never followed through with his promise to the Lord. Not only do non-believers make such promises to God in a pinch, Christians do the same. And when the crisis passes, there is no honoring their promise to God. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Amen.

Pastor