The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son (s) are Jesus’ way of giving God’s response to what is happening when Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners.
Yes we advance in the faith, but we never advance beyond repentance. Jesus wants people to remember where they came from, that all need rescuing, and we should rejoice for all who are.
The older brother represented the religious leaders who were grumbling against Jesus. It also represents every person and every other religion that denies and attacks the gospel of God’s free grace through His Son Jesus Christ. It also represents every modern day Pharisee, all the legalists who call themselves Christians but who want to shackle God’s people with rules and regulations that aren’t in the Bible. They say that they love God but they hate having to serve Him while others seem to come in with dirty stinking pig slop on them and get treated with love.
People often despise the good graces God is giving someone else, when someone else is “being treated better” by God. That self pity is just masking the self righteous syndrome.
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“ Not Fair! ” Like how you keep applying the message of that handout from a couple months back "It's Not Fair". It was good, & so is this further application.
Also, that was as vivid a portrayal of the Prodigal Sons' story as I've seen outside of the "Modern Parables" take on it. Of course they had video, but you painted it nearly as well with mere words.
Margie (8/8/2011)
from Inverness, FL
“ Enlightening ” This sermon brings the parables in Luke 15 in a fresh new perspective for those of us that think we've heard it before and know all about it. If you take the time to listen I believe you will agree. Pastor Hatfield helps us "enter in" and understand the culture at the time.
