“Turning The Page”.

Matthew 21:28-32 (the Parable of the Two Sons) contrasts outward obedience with inward action, showing the first son (who said "no" but later obeyed) as doing God's will over the second (who said "yes" but didn't). James 4:13-17 warns against boasting about future plans, emphasizing reliance on God's will ("if the Lord wills"), highlighting that presumption about worldly success without acknowledging God is sin, a theme of true obedience and humility that echoes Matthew's call for genuine action over mere words. Matthew 21:28-32 (Parable of the Two Sons)

• The Story: A father asks his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first says he won't but later changes his mind and goes; the second says he will but doesn't.
• The Meaning: Jesus asks which son did the father's will. The religious leaders answer "the first". Jesus declares that tax collectors and prostitutes, who initially rejected John the Baptist but later repented, are entering God's kingdom before the leaders, who heard but didn't act.
• The Lesson: True righteousness is demonstrated through obedient action, not just verbal agreement or outward piety. 

• The Warning: The passage addresses those who plan worldly ventures without acknowledging God's sovereignty, saying, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that".
• The Rebuke: Such boasting, focusing on personal plans for wealth, is seen as evil.
• The Command: Christians are told to know what is good (planning for the future responsibly) but fail to do it, and this failure to live out faith in God's will is sin.
• The Lesson: Humility and dependence on God are essential; our plans must align with His will, recognizing He is the ultimate source of life and success, not our own ambition. 

• Matthew shows that even those who initially refuse (like the first son) but repent and act are favored over those who give lip service (like the second son).
• James warns against presuming God's favor for worldly plans, urging a heart that aligns with God's will in all endeavors, showing true faith through practical submission rather than boasting. 

James 4:13-17 (Warning Against Presumption)Connection Between the Passages Both passages challenge hypocrisy and emphasize genuine, obedient action over empty words or presumptuous plans.