Posted by Searcher
on 7/1/2009, 9:36 am, in reply to "Returning to the Prodigal Son"
75.104.128.58
Dear Ray,
The parable of the prodigal son was addressed to the Pharisees. It is a result of their anger towards the Messiah and his followers. Jesus freely taught "publicans and sinners". The Pharisees were the religious elites of that time and frequently found fault with Him.
Luke 15:1-5
1 Then drew unto Him all the publicans [tax-gathers] and sinners for to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."
3 And He spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Compare vs Luke 15:4&5 above to
Luke 15: 24,25
For this son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
He had been as a dead man to his father. Now he had come home and his father is happy.
The elder son reacted to his brother's acceptance in the same way that the Pharisees reacted to their Messiah and those who followed Him:
Luke 15:28
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, "'Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment..."
The elder son's words are a mirror of the Pharisees' claim and proud boast. Look at the humility of the publican compared to the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-13> Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with HIMSELF, God, I thank Thee that I am not as OTHER men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
(The Pharisee is proud and a hypocrite)
Notice the contrast in the prayer of the publican:
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
The judgment in the eyes of the Lord between these two?
14 I tell you, this man [the publican] went down to his house justified RATHER than the other {the Pharisee]: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Pharisee and the humble publican can be compared to the proud and angry elder son and to the prodigal son.
Searcher
Message Thread:
« Back to thread