Fragments on Matthew

The first son as the Gentiles§1

Theophilus is opening his commentary on Matthew 21:23 and 21:28–32, explaining that the first son in the parable represents the Gentiles, whom God called first.

1It is untimely to unfold the deeper things to deceitful people who do not come to learn (Matthew 21:23).

A man had two sons, and the first son is the Gentiles, whom God the common Father called first. For he sowed the teachable and natural law in their minds and gave the visible creation as heralds, but the good order of their soul was poured out onto wood and stones. For they said to the wood, “You are my father.” Therefore they did not endure being hindered, for they said, “We do not know the Lord.” So these, having regretted it later, went away into the vineyard (Matthew 21:28–32).

The second son's refusal and the Gentiles' condemnation§2

Theophilus is explaining the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28–32, and has just described the first son, the Gentiles, who repented and went into the vineyard.

2When the first son—the Gentiles—had refused, the Father went to the second son—that is, to Israel—who, being called through Moses, said, “All that God has spoken, we will do and we will hear.” But they neither did nor heard, nor did they repent afterward. The prostitutes and the tax collectors—that is, the Gentiles—condemned them.

The parable's point: repentant tax collectors and prostitutes are justified§3

Theophilus is explaining the point of the parable of the two sons from Matthew 21:28–32, now stating what the parable means for the first group.

3This is what the parable wants to say: the tax collectors and the prostitutes repented and did the things pleasing to God, and so they are justified, having been persuaded by John—even though at first they were disobeying the law, or rather, disobeying God himself.

Words versus deeds in the kingdom§4

Theophilus is closing his explanation of the two sons, contrasting the Pharisees who only speak of keeping the law with the repentant tax collectors and prostitutes.

4But the Pharisees who claim to keep the law in bare words only are rejected by God. For the kingdom of heaven is not in words but in deeds, and not the hearer of the law but the doer is righteous. The rest of these in the presence of God are like those who promised to go into the vineyard to work and did not go.