Jesus Teaches About Obedience

1. The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was confronted by the priests and religious leaders, who were questioning His authority. They were certain of their righteousness and believed they were the chosen ones by God. In response to their attitudes, Jesus told them a story about two sons to illustrate the true meaning of obedience.

“There was a father who had two sons,” Jesus began. “He told the first son, ‘Go and work in my vineyard today.’ The son replied, ‘I don’t want to.’ But later, he changed his mind and went. Then the father told the second son the same thing. ‘Yes, sir,’ he said, but he never went.”

Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?”

The religious leaders quickly answered, “The first one.”

Jesus affirmed their answer and pointed out, “I tell you, the tax collectors and sinners are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. John came to you showing the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.”

In this story, Jesus teaches that true obedience is not about empty words or polite responses, but about actions that reflect a genuine change of heart. It is not enough to simply say the right things or make promises; obedience comes from doing God’s will, even if it means changing one’s mind and heart.

2. The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

Another time, Jesus used a simple parable to teach about the importance of obedience. He said, “Anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus used this parable to show that those who hear His teachings and obey them are like a wise builder who constructs a house on a solid foundation. In contrast, those who hear His words but do not obey them are like a foolish builder whose house collapses when trouble comes. True obedience is about acting on God’s Word, not just listening to it.

3. Obeying Out of Love (John 14:15, 21)

Jesus also taught His disciples about the deep connection between love and obedience. He said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” Jesus made it clear that obedience is a sign of true love for Him. It is not enough to simply say we love Jesus; our actions must reflect that love through obedience to His commands.

Later, He explained further to His disciples: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

In these teachings, Jesus shows that obedience is not a mere duty but a natural expression of love. True discipleship involves loving Jesus through our actions, demonstrating our commitment to His teachings by following them.

Jesus teaches that obedience is at the heart of what it means to follow Him. It is not enough to merely talk about faith or make promises; obedience requires us to align our actions with God’s will. Whether in the story of the two sons, the parable of the wise and foolish builders, or His teaching on love, Jesus makes it clear that our love for Him is shown through our obedience. Obeying His commands is not just a matter of duty but an expression of genuine love and devotion.