Human pride and arrogance are so powerful! Nations can be humbled and human lives destroyed and God can be 'exiled' from our lives. The prophet warns the people that they are bringing disaster on their heads by their attitudes and actions. But there is hope: someday God will remove the unjust and the arrogant from their midst and help the people to call on God with pure hearts and minds. God is more impressed by humble, loving, and open hearts than magnificent words and deeds.

The story of the two sons is a perfect example. One is all talk and show - he is agreeable to his father's request but it is just 'lip service'. He does only what he wants and forgets about his father. The other is a bit stubborn and unruly - he objects and refuses his father's request. But behind all of the bluster and harsh talk he has a good heart and yearns to do the right thing. In the end - after some difficulty and delay - he does what was asked. Jesus uses this story as an example: we cannot judge by external appearances. One can appear to be religious, righteous, and 'churchy' even while doing their own will rather than the will of God. Those whose lives appear to be a mess (the tax collectors and sinners) may be closer to God than we are. Those who actually do what God asks - even in an imperfect way - are far closer to God than those who merely talk about it.