In the sermon on the mount Christ said, "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. The test of sincerity is not in words, but in deeds. Christ does not say to any man, What say ye more than others? but, "What do ye more than others?" Matt. 5:47. Full of meaning are His words, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." John 13:17. Words are of no value unless they are accompanied with appropriate deeds. This is the lesson taught in the parable of the two sons.

I bjergprædikenen sagde Jesus: "Ikke enhver der siger til mig Herre, Herre! skal komme ind i Himmeriget, men den, der gør min himmelske Faders vilje." Prøven på et menneskes oprigtighed vises ikke i ord, men i gerninger Jesus spørger ikke nogen om, hvad særligt de siger men: "Hvad særligt gør I?" Der ligger en dyb betydning i hans ord: "Når I ved dette, er I salige, om I gør det." Ord er intet værd, hvis de ikke følges af gerninger der svarer til dem. Det er hvad lignelsen om de to sønner lærer os.