Three Sons and One Loving Father

Jesus’ parable of the two sons reveals three kinds of children in God’s family: the openly rebellious who later repent, the outwardly obedient who refuse God in their hearts, and the implied third son whose words and actions come together through the Holy Spirit’s work. Set during Holy Week, this encounter exposes both the obvious sins of tax collectors and prostitutes and the hidden self‑righteousness of the religious leaders.

Yet the beauty of the Good News of forgiveness in Christ is that our Heavenly Father does not use comparison or guilt to change His children. Instead, through Christ’s perfect obedience and the Spirit’s patient, persistent work, He turns both indifference and self‑righteousness into repentance and faith. In Christ, we are made the “third son,” forgiven, renewed, and joyfully called to share the comforting news of salvation with our neighbors.