“but afterward he regretted it and went.”
(Matthew 21:29)
“But the Lord said to Samuel,
“Do not look at his appearance
or at his physical stature,
because I have refused him.
For the Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.””
(1 Samuel 16:7)
The parable of the two sons
In Matthew 21:28 – 32 is like this
Statement from 1 Samuel 16
We can so often and so easily
Look at what we “SEE”
Rather than take the time
To consider a person’s heart
The outward appearance is obvious
But it takes time to see what
Is in a person’s heart
For what a person truly believes
Will be shown consistently
By what they do and how they act
In this story of the two sons
The first was adamant that he couldn’t
Be bothered with his father’s request
“but afterward he regretted it and went.”
(Matthew 21:29)
On the other hand…
The second was outwardly agreeable
But failed to do what was asked of him
One appeared begrudging and insensitive
While the other seemed willing and amenable
But the soft heart won in the end
Which so often is not from the one
You would naturally think of
Many times people who have the perfect
And spotless outward appearance
Are “man” pleasers
Whereas the ones who are “God” pleasers
Pay more attention to the needs of others
Than being concerned with taking care
Of their own needs and appearance