There are lots of sermons that teach about the values of the lost sheep (15:1-7) and the diligence of the woman who lost a coin (15:8-10) and the wonders of the father's love, the prodigals repentance, the elder son's bitterness (15:11-32) and the lessons we should learn from each of them. There are even lessons concerning the baffling story of the shrewd manager (16:1-15) and how we must learn to be as innocent as doves while being as shrewd as serpents.
Yet, the meaning of these parables is wrapped up in the reason Jesus is telling them, along with the persons whom Jesus is telling them to...the Pharisees.
Jesus is not giving them counsel on how to be better and more loving and accepting kinds of people. Rather, He is rebuking them for their pride, arrogance, failure in their responsibilities to Israel, lack of joy over salvation of even one who repents and is welcomed into God's kingdom.
His rebukes are living, pointed, sharper than a two-edged sword (cf. Heb 4:12-13) and they understand these stories feature the Pharisees as the villains. And yet even in these stories, Jesus is calling them to wake up to their failures, their pride and arrogance, in order that they might repent and believe, humble themselves before God, and be saved.
What is their response? To sneer at Him in scorn...literally to turn up their noses at Him. Is there any more vivid word to describe their recalcitrance and arrogance?
Many today here of the Jesus of the Bible and turn up their noses at Him as well. They would rather have a Jesus who fits their own desires, than the Jesus who is able to save their souls.
May it not be so with you and me today. |
