Luke 15 Commentary
Exclusivity. Hypocrisy. Greedy. The Pharisees and scribes would not be far from these words. In this gospel, they are the main antagonist. The storyline is not complete without them!
Not too long ago, yesterday, in fact, they invited Jesus to their banquet. So Jesus can have a meal with them and not with the tax collectors and sinners!
Consequently, we have three parables explaining the generosity of the LORD, God Almighty. They all have the same conclusion: Great joy and celebration when a sinner repents. Verses 7, 10, and 32. The details leading up to this conclusion are interesting.
First, the parable of the lost sheep. Sheep and not goats. Could it be that the scripture wants us to think about the not-so-bad individuals – the god-fearing men and women who must find faith in Jesus Christ? The sheep must be found; it cannot find itself. If you are saved, you know the LORD found you!
Even good people need salvation. Even good people have lost their way. Salvation is for everyone!
The parable of the lost coin can be complex. The coin could be an individual with a high premium on his or her head in the eyes of the LORD. They must be found at all costs. The LORD spares no expense until the treasure is found. Of course, Calvary is the ultimate price!
The coin could represent salvation or eternal life. It must be found at all costs, sell all you have, if possible. There is a hint that individuals are on a search mission – forever empty hearts until they are filled by the LORD. Salvation could be the coin that we are all searching for. What joy to find it! It is Heaven’s joy!
Third, the parable of the lost son. This missing item has brains. He decides to go back.
How all these thoughts combine at the same time and remain true as individual statements remains a mystery. Yes, the LORD searched and found the hopelessly lost sinner, cleaned her, and the rest is history – a bride happily married again!
Yes, the LORD waited for the son to come back to his senses. He welcomes him and restores his fortunes – a happy family once again. Happy? No. Not everyone. The elder son’s reaction is represented by the reaction of the Pharisees and the scribes.
How happy are we when one sinner repents?
These parables here and yesterday communicate various thoughts. The Creator God is on the hunt for lost souls. Even when the father (Father) waited for the son, we know the Holy Spirit was at work, convincing the son to consider his options.
One thing is clear: individuals are highly valued by God. The servants in the field do well to remember the specs of the mission: “Don’t kill the fugitive. Keep and bring alive.” Compel them, speak tenderly and convincingly about God’s love for them. The palace is always a better place for them!
Do we speak about God’s goodness the way we praise a valued pizza? Let the field workers know their Master eagerly awaits His lost sons and daughters. There is a banquet waiting for the arrival. Won’t you love to be the one walking in proudly with the lost but found daughter? Imagine the Father’s happy face!
There is more in this chapter. Exclusivity and greediness.
These are evil qualities behind the desire to possess something exclusively. It’s the younger son’s problem. He wants to have his own share.
You guess he is discontented with his father’s administration of the family wealth. We have the repeat of the deception of Eden in this parable – the thought that you don’t have what you already have!
It is also the older son’s problem. He hasn’t asked for it, but he has wished for it all his life. He has the servant mentality – working for his father’s favor and feels his father hasn’t rewarded him accordingly. His mentality is the brain behind the gospel of works.
We can draw on the father’s statement to underline the teaching on possessions. “All I have is yours.”
This statement was made when the older son complained about the feast for his young brother.
His argument was that his father (the Father) had ignored his labor and faithfulness by not rewarding him with “not even a goat”.
This parable underlines the deception of “Eden”. The younger son thought he needed to get his own share. Exclusive ownership. (Probably so that he could make decisions over expenses – probably discontented with his father’s “strict” administration of finances)
The older son had the same problem, but he never mentioned it. But he wished it. A “goat” to himself and a party with friends.
Both of them longed for a party!
We, the saints, must pray for grace to begin to enjoy all the good things in God’s house – knowing “All I have is yours.”
Many problems arise because we don’t just get it, “All I have is yours”. We feel we cannot eat because we don’t have (possess) food. We feel we can only travel if we possess a car or have money…forgetting the statement, “All I have is yours”.
They both longed for a party!
Unbelievers long for a party. They express their longing in many different ways, and the results are always disastrous!
Saints long for a party. They act out their longing by works of righteousness (slaving for God), expecting a “goat”, and never get it. They are frustrated!
The solution for a party isn’t in possession (my cut/share or a “goat”), but in a deeper understanding of God’s economy, “All I have is yours”.
You already have what you feel you don’t have. It’s all about undoing “Eden’s” deception that you should be like God when you are already in His image!
This teaching is for the older son. But it is also for the younger son. He shouldn’t have sought to separate from his father’s wealth. Before he went his way, all his father’s wealth was his. Nothing changed! Of course, deception made things look different!
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