H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon during the Wednesday meeting this evening at St. Anthony’s Church in the Papal Residence at the Abbasia Cathedral. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the online C.O.C. channel of the Church’s media center on the internet.

His Holiness continued the series “Pairs in the Parables of Christ” and read from the Gospel of Matthew 21:28–32, discussing the Parable of the Two Sons. He connected this parable with the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, as both illustrate themes of disobedience, regret, and repentance.

Pope Tawadros explained that in the Parable of the Two Sons, the first son initially refused but later regretted it and obeyed. He represents those who were distant but eventually returned and entered the fold of faith. On the other hand, the second son immediately agreed but did not follow through, symbolizing those who offer verbal love and false obedience.

His Holiness discussed the events of both parables as follows:

1- When Was the Parable Spoken?
The Parable of the Two Sons was spoken during the events following Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). At that time, the chief priests and elders questioned the Lord Christ’s authority, asking by what power He taught and performed miracles. They intended to trap Him into making a mistake that would allow them to accuse Him of breaking the Law.
In response, Jesus wisely questioned them about the source of John the Baptist’s baptism—whether it was from heaven or from men. This made the Jews face the truth: “And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men,” we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus and said, ‘We do not know.’ And He said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’” (Matthew 21:25–27).
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus spoke about a sinner who initially went astray but later repented and returned. God does not judge based on an initial rejection but rather looks at the repentance.

2- Core Meanings in Both Parables

The first son in the Parable of the Two Sons represents tax collectors and sinners who repented and ultimately obeyed God. These individuals live out the commandment in its true depth.

The second son represents the Pharisees and chief priests, who outwardly appear righteous but do not act in obedience to God’s will.
As Christ said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The Church teaches us during fasting seasons to live a truly holy spiritual life, one that begins with words but is fulfilled by doing God’s will: “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him” (Matthew 21:31–32).
Likewise, in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger son fell into the deception of sin, realized its dark reality, regretted his actions, and compared his past to his present. This is the reasoning of a wise person.

3- Sincerity in Intentions Before Speaking

True human interactions must be honest and genuine: “But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:18–19).
Unlike the second son in the parable, who said “yes” but did not follow through, our “yes” must be sincere—without hesitation or doubt—and must be a true application of God’s commandments.

If a person sins, God is always willing to accept his repentance: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

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