This is one of the most known and most loved chapters of the whole Bible. These three parables bring out the JOY of God when the lost sinner is found.
The important thing to note is who is around Jesus when he is telling these stories.
(Luke 15:1-2 NIV) Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. {2} But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and teachers of the law….. a more judgmental, self-righteous, self seeking lot could not have been assembled. What a motley crew! The tax collectors were despised because they helped the hated Romans who took over their land and profited from their own countrymen by taking from the tax money they collected to fatten themselves. The sinners – well, they need no explanation. The Pharisees and teachers of the law rebuked Jesus for association with such lowly and corrupt people.
With a little introspection all of us could fall into one of the unruly sects listed above.
One thing is for certain Jesus knew who he was speaking to. Look at what Jesus says right before he begins this chapter - "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Gulp – that means all of us. Let us all open our hearts and see what we can learn from the master.
Brad Childers
I think the thing that stood out to me most in this reading today was the son saying, "Father, give me my share of the estate" as if he had any right to demand anything. I often wonder how many times I approach the Father in this same attitude. Give me, give me, give me. The question I gotta ask myself is am I seeking time with the Father or seeking what He may choose to bless me with? Tommy Tenney wrote in The God Chasers that we often are guilty of seeking God's hand (His favor, His blessings), rather than seeking God's face (His presence).
ReplyDeleteOh, that I would count being in the presence of the Father as the only blessing I need!