Bible in a Year - Women’s Thematic Reading Plan | Day 260

Women’s Bible Reading Plan Day 260. Today we read Matthew 21:28-32. The theme is “The Response of the Two Sons.” Through Jesus’ parable of the two sons, we reflect on what it means to respond to the Lord—not only with words, but with repentance, obedience, and a life that turns toward Him. This page includes Matthew 21:28-32 Scripture, devotional reflection, meditation questions, a daily devotional verse, prayer, and life application.

🌸  Dear Sister, welcome to Day 260 of our reading journey. 

In our life of faith, it can be easy to say the right words. We may say, “Lord, I am willing.” We may sing, “I will follow You.” We may express in prayer our desire to obey God. But when the Word of God touches our temper, relationships, choices, time, money, family, service, and the pride hidden deep within us, we begin to realize that saying yes with our lips is not the same as truly obeying with our lives.

In Matthew 21, Jesus tells a short but deeply searching parable. A father had two sons. He came to the first and said, “Son, go work to day in my vineyard.” The first son answered, “I will not,” but afterward he repented and went. The father then went to the second son and said the same thing. The second son answered, “I go, sir,” but he did not go. Through this parable, Jesus shows that the one who truly does the will of the father is not the one who only gives a respectful answer, but the one who later repents and actually obeys.

This passage gives sisters a gentle yet honest reminder. Sometimes we may appear spiritually mature on the outside. We may be familiar with church gatherings, prayer, service, and biblical language. We may know the correct answers. Yet in real life, we may still delay forgiveness, refuse to let go of control, avoid admitting weakness, hold on to certain sins, or resist adjusting our priorities. At other times, we may have resisted, avoided, struggled, or said, “I will not,” but God still gives us the grace to repent and return.

Today, the Lord is not asking us to remain in shame. He is inviting us to come honestly before Him. What He values is not beautiful words on the surface, but a heart that is willing to repent, turn around, and obey again.

A Minute of Grace

Matthew 21:28-32 records the parable of the two sons, which Jesus spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people. This parable comes in the context of the religious leaders questioning Jesus’ authority. Instead of answering them with a complicated argument, Jesus uses a simple family story about a father and two sons to reveal the true condition of the human response to God.

The first son initially says, “I will not.” On the surface, his answer is not good. He does not immediately obey his father’s command; he even shows resistance and unwillingness. Yet the Scripture says that afterward he repented and went. This shows us that true repentance does not remain only in regret or emotion; it turns into action. A person may begin in weakness, slowness, or resistance, but that does not mean she cannot return. The key is this: when God’s Word shines light on her heart, is she willing to change direction and obey the Father’s will again?

The second son answers, “I go, sir.” His reply sounds respectful and correct. Yet the Scripture says that he did not go. Through this son, Jesus reminds us that spiritual words without actual obedience can become only an outward appearance of godliness. To call God Father with our lips, while refusing to do the Father’s will in life, is the very condition Jesus exposes and rebukes.

Jesus then points out that publicans and harlots enter the kingdom of God before those religious leaders, because they heard the way of righteousness preached by John and believed; but the leaders, even after seeing this, did not repent or believe. This is a sobering word. It reminds us that the door of the kingdom is not opened to those who are self-righteous, but to those who are willing to repent, believe, and turn to God.

Today’s theme, “The Response of the Two Sons,” invites us to examine whether our faith has remained only in words. Do we often say that we are willing, yet fail to take real steps of obedience? Are we familiar with spiritual language, yet unwilling to obey in certain specific areas? Perhaps the Lord is not condemning us for past weakness, but calling us not to remain in disobedience. The response that pleases Him is not only saying, “I go,” but truly walking toward the vineyard after repentance.

Whispers for the Heart

1 The first son in Jesus’ parable initially said, “I will not,” but later repented and went. Are there areas where you have resisted God, delayed obedience, or avoided facing what He has shown you? Is the Holy Spirit reminding you today that you can turn back and not remain in past refusal?

2 The second son said with his mouth, “I go,” but he did not go. Are there areas in your faith where obedience is easy to say but difficult to live out? For example: forgiveness, humility, self-control, prayer, Scripture reading, service, honesty, releasing anxiety, or reordering your priorities?

3 Jesus pointed out that some people who were looked down upon—publicans and harlots—heard the word and repented, and entered the kingdom of God before the religious leaders. Do you ever become spiritually dull or self-satisfied because you are familiar with faith, involved in service, or knowledgeable about biblical truth? Are you willing to ask the Lord again for a soft and teachable heart?

4 For sisters, obedience to the Lord is often not found in dramatic moments, but in daily responses. Is the Lord inviting you today to take one real step of obedience in a specific relationship, family responsibility, emotional reaction, attitude in service, or hidden struggle—not only saying yes, but actually following Him?

Today, let us enter Matthew 21:28-32 with these questions. Do not read the parable of the two sons only as a rebuke to the religious leaders. Let it also become a light shining into our own hearts. The Lord knows our hesitation, weakness, and struggle, but He is also waiting for us to repent and return.

Let us take a quiet moment and bring before the Lord every verbal yes, every hidden hesitation, every unseen disobedience, and every desire to begin again. Then let us begin today’s reading together.

🎞️ Today's Youtube Video 

🪕 Response Hymn: 

Matthew 21:28-32 KJV Scripture

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

🪕 Response Hymn: 

💡 Closing Thought · Respond to the Lord’s Call With Obedience

After reading Matthew 21:28-32, we see that Jesus values not how many correct words a person says, but whether that person is willing to truly respond to the Father’s will. The first son refused at first, yet afterward repented and went. The second son agreed with his mouth, yet never acted. This parable reminds us that true obedience is not fluency in spiritual language, but a changed direction in life.

As we turn this page, we also return to our daily lives. Perhaps today the Lord is not asking you to do something very large. Perhaps He is calling you in one specific small place: to be a little gentler, a little more honest, to let go a little more, to forgive a little more, to pray again, to open Scripture again, or to put Him first again.

May today’s Scripture remind you: even if you have hesitated, resisted, or delayed, the Lord still gives you grace to repent and return. Do not remain only in the words, “I am willing,” and do not be trapped by a past, “I will not.” Today, you can still respond to the Father’s call and walk toward the vineyard He has shown you.

🎉🎉 Congratulations on completing today's devotion! 🎉🎉