Study 34. Luke 15:1-32. 18/8/23

 12. According to the parables of the sheep and coin (15:3-10), how does God respond when one of His valued creatures or treasures is lost (15:4, 8)?

 God actively seeks out lost sinners and brings them home. The rabbis agreed that God would welcome the penitent sinner. But it is a new idea that God is a seeking God, a God who takes the initiative.(Morris)

But the safe possession of ninety-nine is no substitute for the loss of one. The shepherd happily brings the sheep home on his shoulders. There is no grumbling about carrying the animal: the shepherd is rejoicing. (Morris)

The sheep is too weak to return on its own.

An Eastern house would have no windows, or very small ones, so the lighting of a lamp was necessary for a close search even in the daytime

The coin has no power in itself to return to its owner.

13. What does God do and how does He feel when he finds His lost one (see 15:5-7, 9-10)?

 God is full of joy, and He calls everyone to rejoice with Him. 

"ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance" is likely ironic - all need repentance, but some do not perceive their need for repentance (cf. 5:32 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance"

 

14. In the first 2 parables, the shepherd and the woman with the lamp hunt diligently for their lost valuables. In the third parable, what brings the son to repentance (15:14-17)?

 Adversity. The son "came to himself" (v.17).

15. How does the father treat the son who insulted him and squandered his wealth (15:20-24)?

Longing ('while he was still a long way off', v.20a)

Compassion (v.20b)

Acceptance (v.20c)

Honour (v.22)

Rejoicing/celebration (v.22-24)

16. How does the older son feel about his father's response to his brother? Why does he feel that way (15:25-30)?

The older son was angry. Years of resentment boiled up. He saw himself as the model son, but his use of the verb douleuō, ‘to serve as a slave’ shows his true attitude to his father. 

 The proud and the self-righteous always feel that they are not treated as well as they deserve. (Morris)

It was fitting is not strong enough for his word edei, which means ‘It was necessary’. The welcome to the younger son was not simply a good thing which might or might not have occurred. It was the right thing. The father had to do it. Joy was the only proper reaction in such a situation. Notice that he does not speak of ‘my son’ but of your brother.(Morris)

17. What response does this parable ask from 

a. Sinners?

Repent and return to God

 

b. Pharisees?

Join the celebration when sinners return to God. They had said, "This man receives sinners and eats with them” - something the elder son would have said of his father.

 

 c. You?  Do you identify more with the older or the younger son? Why?

Jesus does not go on to tell us whether the elder son responded or not. Nor does he say how the younger son lived in response to his father’s welcoming love. In leaving these points unresolved he throws out a challenge to all his hearers, be they like the elder brother or like the younger. We tend to see ourselves as the prodigal and rejoice in the welcoming love of God. This is good, and it is even better if we go on to make the appropriate response to that love. But we might also profitably reflect that, unless we are very unusual, we can also see ourselves in the elder brother. It is a common human failing to think that we are not appreciated as we ought to be, that people do not give us credit for what we have done (Morris)

What complaint promoted Jesus to tell the three parables in chapter 15? How does this help you understand the message of the parables?

"This man receives sinners and eats with them" reveals a misunderstanding of God's seeking nature. God loves sinners and seeks them out.

a. How is every person's decision to sin like the yonger son's choices in 15:11-13?

A wish that God not be around

A desire to claim what is ours before the right time.

An avoidance of accountability by living where we are unknown

Living without restraint and without thought of consequences, irresponsibly 

 

b. How is 15:17-21 a picture of any person's repentance? How do the younger son's attitudes towards himself and his father change after he repents? He regained a right understanding of himself and his circumstances. 

He saw how blessed it was in the father's house he had left.

Humility 

He acknowledged his sin before God and his father

He recognized his unworthiness.