Which is more important, saying or doing?

Today's Gospel reading is the first of the three parables (the Two Sons, the Tenants, and the Wedding Feast) that Jesus used to criticize the Jewish religious leaders for their rejection of their Messiah and the subsequent judgment on Israel. In this context, the leaders of Israel were the second son who claimed obedience, but did not do the will of the father.

In relation to this parable, I think of a popular Chinese idiom: “Say one thing but do quite another” (講一套, 做一套). Implied in this saying is that actions take precedence over words. Interesting enough, the Jewish leaders also took the same stance. They commended the first son because he did what was right despite both sons did what was contrary to their words. It was meant to be a reproving parable (one that appeals to the offenders themselves and judges them out of their own mouths) but in this case, apart from the chagrin of the Jewish authorities, it also reveals a common consensus among the general populace—action speaks for itself.

That deed is more important than word can be understood from our Lord Jesus Himself. In His earthly ministry, His words were backed up by His deeds. Indeed, His last deed (His willful death) was the culmination of all His words. Imagine if Jesus, like the second son, consented to come into this world and accepted His saving mission, but later changed His mind and did not die on the cross, would Christianity still survive amid the many persecutions throughout the centuries, or would it merely become a school of philosophical ideas or humanitarian ideology?

I can think of another similar relationship between orthodoxy and orthopraxy (correct belief/faith versus correct practice/deed). As Christians, how do we identify ourselves? Are we the people of faith (belief) or the people of works (practice)? Are we the people of words or the people of deeds? Should not both our words and deeds match when applying to our daily lives? “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves," and "So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom," (James 1:22, 2:12). A well known passage of James (2:14-26) speaks out clearly that “faith without works is dead”.

Having known that, let us not devalue orthodoxy altogether and forget that what constitutes the “right” action of the sons is the doing of the father's will which is the cause and the yardstick for the right action. Neglecting the correct belief, our actions fall short of their true goodness for they may be falsely motivated by impulse/emotion, self righteousness or simply affectation. As true disciples of Christ, let us follow Him both in words and in deeds and to become the kind of people we are called to be.

N.B. Orthopraxy may also be referred to by some as practicing prescribed religious rituals and observances.