The Master Teacher
Luke 15
The Master Teacher
Luke 15
"'Which of these do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?' The expert in law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'"
(Luke 10:36-37)
Jesus was a master teacher. Brilliantly He wove together stories and theology, custom and truth, heaven and earth. Our English word "parable" is formed from two Greek words: "para," beside, and "bole," to throw, and meant to put two things side by side and compare them. Using parables Jesus would take what His listeners were familiar with on earth and compare it to something about heaven with which they were unfamiliar.
Imagine being in the crowd, listening to Jesus, the Son of God, tell the story of the Lost Son or the Good Samaritan. Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, women, children and priests all were listening and responding to the truth in their own way. People today also have a myriad of responses to Jesus. Things haven't changed much! We read through the Gospels and we, too, can listen to Jesus as He unravels some of the mysteries of eternity for us. "Go and do likewise," He says to the lawyer after telling him the parable of the Good Samaritan. "Go and show mercy," He says to us now.
INSIGHT
Not everything Jesus taught about was unfamiliar to His listeners. But understanding from God's perspective - through the filter of holiness - was.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 3-4
Psalm 81
Acts 2
Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 "But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 "‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
Footnotes:
a.Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages
GOD IS NEAR [PART 4]
There is nothing worse than being far from God and nothing better than experiencing his nearness. If you are in Christ, then regardless of how you feel today, there is one promise you can cling to.
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