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Luke 15
What are the similarities in the three stories Jesus tells? The differences? The common point? The Pharisees and teachers of the law were indignant with Jesus. In their legalistic minds, He did not keep Himself pure because He associated with sinners and outcasts. The ‘righteous’ religious leaders would never be caught at such tables! Jesus uses these three stories to show the error in their thinking.
In the first two parables, Jesus points out their lack of compassion for the lost. I think He also hints at their misunderstanding of their own need. And He illustrates His purpose. He then hits deeper with the parable of the lost son. As much as someone would rejoice in finding lost possessions, how much greater would that rejoicing be over the return of a lost son? It was, after all, people the religious leaders were scorning. It is in this story that Jesus really calls them out. He showed them how their relationship with God was lacking and why.
Though they thought they served God, the religious leaders missed out on God’s grace. “The older brother became angry and refused to go in.” (Lk. 15:28a). It is the same reason anyone misses out on God’s grace – because they refuse to accept it. If we cannot accept God’s grace for others, we cannot accept it for ourselves because we fail to understand that God’s grace is based on our need and His great love and compassion. It has nothing to do with our own righteousness. Thus, we don’t receive it for slaving away and obeying orders. Rather, we receive it through repentance – recognizing our need and entering into our Father’s celebration.
Hos. 1-3
Two quick thoughts from this passage this morning…
First thought: God told Hosea that He would withdraw His love from Israel but not Judah. Of Judah He said, “I will save them – not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the LORD their God, will save them.” (Hos. 1:7b). Indeed, when Assyria took Israel and swept through Judah, God stopped them at Jerusalem. God’s word came to pass when Assyria besieged Jerusalem under King Hezekiah’s rule. God destroyed the Assyrian army without anyone lifting a finger against them.
Second thought: I love God’s promise of restoration to His people. He says, “’In that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’’” (Hos. 2:16). What a beautiful statement of how God changes our hearts and restores right relationship with Him! This is what those Jewish religious leaders from Luke missed. They served God as a master and completely missed knowing Him as a loving Father, or Husband in this case in Hosea. This is what is so amazing about God’s redemption for us. He doesn’t just forgive our sins. He gives us a heart to faithfully love our faithful God. And, as with His salvation of Judah foretold in chapter 1, He does it all without anyone else lifting a finger.