Irmela

3. What is at the root of the elder brother's anger towards his father? Have you ever experienced that kind of anger toward God? How do you get rid of that kind of nasty hidden anger? The root is jealousy and self-pity which lead to anger, resentment and rebellion. I don't really think so. God has shown me so much mercy, kindness and love. Guess I have had to do too much with prodigals and been one myself. Also longing for some to return. I guess to get rid of anger you need to visibly show and activate love. I have wallowed in pity-parties but do not see that as having been against God. It was like being in a hole which i could not get out of. A pressure on top of me (like a ton of concrete) that was like making me not able to move, nevermind get up. I praise God for getting me out of that. It was a terrible experience.

2. What was the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees towards the kind of people who were being converted? (15:1-2) The scribes and Pharisees showed disdain towards them, i. e. the sinners and tax collectors. They did not hide the fact at all that they disapproved. They felt unclean to come into contact with them and because it was usually a crowd it was inevitable that they would sometimes contact them as the Pharisees too wanted to hear what Jesus taught. They also wanted to come close to Him and to do that the inevitable often happened in the jostling crowd.

1. Who do the younger brother, father, and older brother represent in this parable? The father represents God the Father. The younger son represents the "sinners and tax collectors" (the outcasts) that Jesus was reaching out to. The older son represents the "scribes and Pharisees" (those who seem to be so at the right place and not doing anything wrong, etc.)

6. What is the point of this parable in its context with the Parables of the Lost Sheep (15:3-7) and the Lost Coin (15:8-10)? Jesus in His time on earth not only spoke about but practiced seeking for the lost, embracing the lost that wanted to return, encouraging and welcoming their return and rejoicing with them. In the first two parables (the cause of being lost was by negligence or by being that way inclined), we have the earnest seeking for the lost and in the last one we have the lost returning of his own after recognizing his state of lostness. (He had wilfully left and needed to come back on his own decision). There is rejoicing when the lost is found or when the lost returns of his own volition.

5. Why does the father restore the son so quickly to full sonship? What do we learn about God in this parable? What difference should this knowledge make in our life and ministry? The father has been longing for this moment for so long and immediately restores his son to sonship, by clothing him (best robes), by placing on him a sign of his love (the ring), by elevating his status (putting shoes/sandals on his feet) from slave (who wore no shoes) to a freedman. He did not accept him back as a slave but immediately gave him back the status of a son. Then finally sharing his joy with all around him by throwing a party. God too, welcomes us back into His embrace. He is merciful. He forgives us (cleansed by the blood of the Lamb) and clothes us in robes of righteousness. He sees us as His children. (we are joint-heirs with Christ.) Not only that, but a banquet table is being prepared for when TIME is no more. Then there will be a feast together. And for now there is rejoicing in Heaven every time a sinner returns. We too should not look askew on any one regardless of the state the person is in. {There but for the grace of God am I.} We should forgive if sinned against and show mercy alternately encourage each encounter to kneel at the cross and ask God's forgiveness and encourage them to return to Him. We should have compassion no matter what. In short when convicted, repent and confess. The Father shows great LOVE and MERCY.

4. What are the four elements of the son's prepared speech? (15:18-19) In what ways do they model an appropriate apology? Confession of sin against God. Confession of sin against his father. Renouncing of his claim to sonship. Requesting to be hired as a servant. It is an appropriate apology in that he had sinned against both God and his father by squandering away the money which by rights should have been put to proper use and be part of what should have been available to look after the parents when they could no longer do so themselves. Now that he had done so he also felt that he no longer had a claim to be a son. As he was truly sorry for his deeds and still wanted to be with the family in some way, he requested that it be as a servant. It is a model for "righting" as it were a misdeed. (a) First we need to make right with God. (b) Then we need to make right with the person we have wronged. (c) Depending on what was wrong maybe one feels one has no right to an intimate friendship with that person anymore. Maybe they can still deem you as an acquaintance. (d) This point also could be taken as similar to the previous one depending on what the wrong was. Basically you are asking to remain friends as you value the friendship. You don't want to walk away with a dark cloud of unforgiveness hanging over this friendship. You would prefer it to be corrected.

3. How can the father be so patient? Why doesn't he run after the son and try to convince him to return? When a person is in this kind of state(frame of mind), forcing them to return will only make them do the running away again at a later stage. They have to come to the point of deciding to return on their own. By letting him go the father is hoping and trusting that he will return to his senses shortly.

2. Why do you think that the younger son asked for his share of the father's estate ahead of time? Why do you think the father granted his request? He was not prepared to wait for his father to die and possibly have the oldest son not divide the property but keep it together as a family land holding, and have him, the younger brother, work "under him" , as the main inheritor. The father obviously knew both his sons and felt it would be better to have any disunity ironed out while he was still living and not have this ill-will brewing between the brothers. He thus granted the younger sons request.

Kreilly I am glad you were blessed by it. It is overwhelming when I just think of it and I just love sharing it. It is just so wonderful when someone else is then blessed also. The Lord bless you and draw you closer to Himself as you continue in your walk with Him.

1. What does this story tell us about the father's character? About the younger son's character? The father is showing faith in what he has taught his sons. The fact that he is prepared to divide his property into three and already hand it over to his sons, shows that he has a trusting nature. He believes that he will be looked after by them, until his demise. The father is also very wise. He knows his sons. He is prepared to teach them and not just keep his wealth to himself. Once the younger son had disappeared, the father did not give up hope that he would return. When he did, he willingly forgave him and restored his status as son. The younger son seems to be jealous of what the older can achieve by working hard. He seems to want to prove he can achieve and keep wealth by living irresponsibly. He seems to be lazy and proves himself to be unworthy of his status as a privileged son of a rich man. He gave himself over to a riotous lifestyle. In spite of all this, the son remembers what he learnt at home and because he knew his father he could humble himself and return home and beg for forgiveness.

4. What is the chief lesson here for disciples? What are we supposed to get out of these parables? It is not the multitudes that we should only go after, but one on one. The one that eg., used to be in the meeting and no longer comes. Seek that person out. Bring him back. We are to have the same heart for the lost that Jesus has. The same passion that He has to save the lost. The "one" is just as important, as the many. There is great rejoicing over the one sinner returned.

3. What is the point of these two parables? How does it relate to the criticism Jesus had received? The point of these parables is to show that those who were lost, were indeed important to God. The Pharisees and scribes had criticized Jesus about spending time with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus used these parables to show God's heart was for the lost ones and Jesus had been sent to them (the sinners and tax collectors /the despised ones), the lost sheep of the "House of Israel".

2. Compare and contrast the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. What are the similarities? What are the differences? With the sheep which is lost, there is no one to blame. (The sheep's own wondering away ... They do things like that) With the lost coin however it could be due to carelessness. (The coin has done nothing to get lost) Neither the sheep nor the coin is to be blamed. The shepherd is in agony because of the lost sheep and does his best to find it. (Roams the hillsides and calls to it). In the same way the woman goes out of her way to find the coin. (Lights a lamp , sweeps up the dust, until she finds it.) Upon returning with the sheep, the shepherd calls his friends to rejoice with him, over the lost sheep which has been found. In the same way the woman also calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her for having found the coin which had been lost. Seeking Finding Celebrating/rejoicing

7. What does saltiness represent in 14:34? Should people be able to tell that you are a Christian? How? How can we walk the fine line between being a witness and coming across "holier than thou"? Salt does not cure corruption but prevents the spread of corruption. It was/is used for flavouring and preservation on the one hand. Also it was/is used on the land for fertilizer (there are different types of salt, not just salt for the "table"). Even for fertilizer there are different 'salt' for the roots, the plant itself etc. Then salt was used for the manure heap. The salt that had lost its flavor was good enough to be trampled on. Yes, our lives should portray us to be different and useful for God to use us. Eg. it is often found that bad talk is stopped in the presence of someone who is a Christian. In that sense by their presence corruption is prevented from spreading.

6. What do Jesus words about "giving up everything he has" (14:33) have to do with owning a house and car? With purchasing a refrigerator? With seeking an academic degree? Personally I feel, our all is then in His Hands. Whatever we purchase or propose to do be it career-oriented or in the work-field, it should all be for His Glory and not just for our need. Hanks has described it very aptly.

4 & 5. (This is another way of looking at the two parables) The first parable is counting the cost for building something (for construction). Can He, i.e., Christ, count on us to build His Church with, after we have indeed counted the cost for discipleship. Will we remain standing for Him. The second parable is counting the cost of going to war. (breaking down something). The opposing forces are double in number. The king going into battle would be the one counting the cost or the strength of his troops. Are they strong enough to STAND, inspite of the opposing numbers. Yes the desciple would need to count the cost and check himself out. Is he able to stand in the battle and not give in. Can he be a soldier for Christ in this battle.

5. What is the point of the Parable of Assessing Military Strength? (14:31-32) This Parable too is about considering whether you really want to become a disciple. The will of God must always take priority in your life. Are you willing to truly give following Christ your all. Again it is all your resources or nothing.

4. What is the point of the Parable of Building the Tower? (14:28-30) Some of the people in the crowd that were following Christ were following for the sake of following. No real commitment. The point of the Parable was to get them to the point of thinking of the "cost" involved to be a disciple. It demands complete commitment. Only if they were prepared for that kind of commitment were they to start the discipleship journey.

3. What does "carrying your cross" having to do with "hating your own life"? (14:26b-27) We need to be fully committed to Christ. In this way we do not give in to our own desires. In other words we die to self daily and follow Christ.

2. How can we rightfully honor our father and our mother, and at the same time not water down Jesus' command to hate them? (14:26) Yeshua's words were intended to shock and challenge. He is using a hyperbole though. Because they are so drastic, they are nor forgotten. So when we come to honoring our parents we do that in such a manner as nor to idolize them and also remember that obedience to Yeshua takes priority above all else.

1. What do "large crowds" (14:25) have to do with Jesus' teaching in this passage? Large crowds were following Jesus and this was a cause for concern. In a large crowd it is easy to just follow for the sake of following. No real conviction or maybe no deep conviction as to why one wants to do the same. Jesus's teaching will make them take a look at themselves and see if this is what they really want to do. It should make them take a serious look into His teaching and that the decision will then be for real and not just because of someone else making the decision or that it is the right thing to do. Really be convicted that that is what you want to do. You want to follow Christ because you KNOW that is right. (you have counted the cost, you have weighed the options)

7. How does this parable illustrate the Father's judgment and his mercy? The judgement is illustrated in that the ones who had originally been invited to the feast are now being left out. Their spurning of the "accepted" invitation cost them entrance to the banquet later (should they change their minds). His mercy is reflected in that the invitation, to come, is now gone to those who would in no ways by their own means be able to reciprocate the invitation. Our Father, by His great mercy, has invited also the Gentiles to come. Not only those from the "Chosen People".

6. What is the fine line between "compelling" people to come to the Lord, and gently leading them, fully respecting their own free will? How can we have both urgency and respect at the same time? (compelling) I guess there is already a leaning over to the desiring to come to the Lord. The hesitancy can almost be felt and will very likely be overcome by ones own urgency in getting them to make a decision. Yet at the same time it must be their decision not yours. {At the request of the owner of the banquet, they were compelled to come. Any excuse they made or hesitancy they came up with, many answers were ready for them, as to why they should come} (gently leading) Here too you find them ready to come to the Lord but are doubtful if they are ok to. A gentle nudge of encouragement and taking by the hand is often all that is needed. Them being recognized as being ok/acceptable. {At the request of the owner of the banquet, these are the lame, the blind, the poor, the crippled. The ones needing a helping hand. The ones that feel they are not good enough and are spurned by society}

5. Why is the host urgent about his invitation in 14:21-23? He is urgent about the invitation as he wants every last place filled, so the feast can begin. (None of those originally asked, will be able to come in and join in the banquet.)