Living Room Study

Luke 15

“All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Jesus.  And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!’”  Luke 15:1-2

The idea that sinners can be restored to the Lord, as if their sin had never happened, is not an entirely New Testament concept. In 1178, a rabbi named Maimonides published a compilation of Judaism’s ancient requirements. He wrote:

“Let not the Jew who repents and returns to Judaism suppose that because of the iniquities and sins he has committed he is kept at a distance from the level attained by righteous men. It isn’t so. He is loved as tenderly by the Creator as if he never sinned.”

To clarify: The point I am making is NOT that people can be saved, by observing the requirements of Judaism. The bible is clear that we are saved by God’s grace, when we repent from our sin, and place our faith in Jesus, alone. Ephesians 2: 8-9. I am simply saying that in the days of Jesus, the Jewish understanding of the “concept” of God’s great love towards repentant sinners, was consistent with Jesus’ message.

That the rabbis’ rejected Jesus’ approach to the “lost sheep of Israel”, proved they were ignoring their own teaching. It brings up an important distinction between “aspirational goals”, and “Core beliefs”. In simple terms, the rabbis were not practicing what they were preaching! Jesus’ response to their criticism was to tell three parables. The symbols He uses become more valuable with each consecutive parable.

The first story concerns the loss of a sheep. No big deal. Nobody cares much about a dumb sheep…except the Shepherd of Israel. Ezekiel 34

Next, is the story of a woman who has 10 coins, and one is lost. There was a time when Israel was divided: 2 tribes formed “Judea”, while the remaining 10 were referred to as “Israel”. “Israel” was synonymous with apostasy, since they embraced idolatry. Who cares if one-of-ten apostate tribes is lost? Only, the God of Israel.

Finally, Jesus describes a father who had two sons. One left home and the other stayed. Every man could relate to a story about sons & fathers. The “prodigal son” is such a familiar story in the world, that most people don’t even attribute its origin to Jesus. But the greater lesson for the Pharisees did not concern the prodigal, but the son who stayed at home.

Filled with self-righteousness, he would not rejoice over his brother’s return, after having squandered his inheritance. Envy is pride wounded in competition. The eldest son’s birthright is to lead the family, spiritually. The Levites’ (priests’) inheritance was to serve the Lord. Why should they care as to how others squandered theirs? Jesus has called us to a holy priesthood. So let’s put all envy and strife aside, and rejoice with one another when the lost come home…just as the angels rejoiced when we came home.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins