Parables Collection 1
Parables Collection 1
Collin Leong. Feb 14, 2024
This parable is a poignant exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the boundless love of God. Jesus recounts the story of a younger son who requests his inheritance prematurely, squanders it in reckless living, and finds himself destitute. In a state of desperation, he decides to return to his father, expecting rejection. To the audience's surprise, the father not only welcomes him with open arms but also throws a grand celebration, symbolizing divine joy over repentance.
"A man has two sons" (v11) - the "two" usually represents differences or conflict. It was not unusual to ask for money from the father. It was typical to do so in the "transition" between the father and the son. The younger son asked for cash ("share for the estate"). The older son will have a "double portion", eg the father's house, as he has to continue his father's legacy. They are also responsible to support their unmarried sisters.
The father "divided his wealth" - the wealth in Greek is "bios", meaning one’s life, existence, or way of living. It encompassed both the material aspects (such as possessions and wealth) and the intangible aspects (such as character, experiences, and relationships). Essentially, it encompassed the entirety of a person’s journey through life. The word “biography” is a combination “bios” (life) with “graphia” (writing or description). Therefore, a biography is a written account or narrative that chronicles the life, achievements, and significant events of an individual.
The younger son travelled to a distant country (v13). In spiritual sense. when someone travelled far, he is no longer within the authority of god. We have the choice to be near or far away from God and His purpose.
He wasted everything he has due to his "loose living" - in Greek, "prodigally", meaning someone who is recklessly wasteful or extravagant, especially with money or resources. It often carries connotations of excessive spending, squandering, or living extravagantly without regard for consequences.
When we obey God we will be blessed, but without him we will suffer lost - reckless living is against the law of god. The young son had a lot in Israel but now he lost it all.
A strong famine came when he is in need. (v14) Sometimes this happened to us too! However, God wants our life to be abundant. The young son "attached" himself to a citizen of that country. Spiritually, it meant that he is under a new authority, and not under God.
We can't imagine a Jewish man serving pigs. (v15) If we are pure we will be blessed but if are evil we will be cursed. No one is concerned about his needs. "Longing to fill" his stomach Greek word is epithymia, which conveys the concept of desire, passionate longing, or lust.
In Christian teaching we are to love one another. However no one is loving him and no one gave anything to him to eat. (v16) God is committed to change your life if you obey him, since God is obligated to do so when he calls you. You can don't agree with God, then only father you have is earthly father who doesn't' care for you.
He remembered that his father has given their servant "more than enough" bread, i.e. Greek root word of "perissos" - meaning the "abundance" of bread. (v17) He has invited suffering and curse for himself, and unless he make a change, he will surely die.
He said "I will get up and go to my father...". The word in Greek for "I will get up" is "anastas" which is the root word for resurrection ("anastasis"). We need to spiritually die, before we can be resurrected. He recognized that he has sinned not just to his father but also to God. He realized he is no longer worthy to be called his son. In salvation, we are no longer belong to ourselves; however, we are the children of god. We can only glorify God our father, when we live righteously. (v18-19)
(v20) In direct translation of the Greek, is says: "Being distant, saw him the father of him, and was moved with compassion, and having run, fell upon the neck of him and kissed him."
His father saw him from a long distance, and ran to him. God sees our hearts, not our mouth. The moment we repent and humble ourselves, and even before we can pray, He is already by our side. He doesn't just feel compassion, but "moved with compassion" to run to him. It was a very rare that people run in those days. It shows his commitment and dedication to the son.
The father "fell upon the neck" of the son. Probably the son was in kneeling position. The "neck" word in Greek is trachēlon, which is also related to trachea in medical terms which is the windpipe of the neck, that serves as the principle passage for conveying air to and from the lungs. They used to kill captured enemies by slitting their trachea. The son has surrendered himself to the father and confessed defeat. The father kissed him to mean his commitment to the son.
Note that the son did not say "make me as one of your hired men" (v21) as he planned to do in v19. By the time he reached the home, he revealed his deep humility and genuine repentance. His focus shifts from self-interest (seeking a role) to a heartfelt desire for reconciliation with his father. The son acknowledges that he doesn’t deserve anything but is wholly dependent on the father’s mercy.
v22 - The father said to the servants to bring the best robe (number one) and put the signet ring (authority) and sandals to the son. When you are walking without shoes or slippers, then you are really poor. v23 - "bring the fattened calf, kill it." The Greek word for "kill" is thysate which has the same root word as thysia which means sacrifice, which eludes to worship.
"for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found." (v24). "Come to life" in Greek is anesi, which primarily conveys the meanings of comfort, ease, and freedom from constraint. The word "found", i.e. Greek word of heurethē, in this context, means "discovered or recovered." Eluding that God has found him rather than he returned on his own.
v25 - The older son was working and when he returned, he heard the sound of music and dancing. A servant told him "‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’" (v27) Safe and sound - the son has been transformed and the father has discerned it. The word "back" - to be presented or brought him back, ie the Father has brought him back.
The older son is "angry" and didn't want to go in. The father came out and begin to plead (begging) with him. The son was angry that the father kills the fattened calf (which the father has prepared in faith for the son to return.)
The father respond by calling him "My child" not "My son" in order to express his love more personally.
The parable of the lost son points us to repentance.
2. The Shrewd Manager - Luke 16:1-13 (NASB95)
The parable commends the manager's shrewdness in managing his resources to secure his future. Jesus uses this example to challenge His followers to be wise and strategic in the use of their resources, both worldly and spiritual.
The manager was accused for squandering the rich man's wealth. The man asked him to give a report of the accounting, but he didn't fired him immediately but told him he will be fired after the report is submitted. The man will take this opportunity to provide for himself what he wants for his future. While he didn't pray or ask for direction, but he ask himself what can he do to secure the future. He confessed that he is too weak to dig (physical work) and too ashamed to beg.
Then he figured out what he should do (an action) to ensure his future, so that his clients will receive him into their homes when he lose his job. He has authority over the debt of his clients - he is offering a discount to his clients. His discount is different for each other as he had a discernment on them. He is using his authority for his own benefit. He knows that there is an end coming for his job.
His master praised the unrighteous manager as he had act shrewd - ie to "think thoroughly." He did not praise his unrighteous but for his shrewdness. Jesus said the sons of this age are more shrewd in relations to their own kind than the sons of light. It is as if we are not aware that we will come to an end and we did nothing to prepare for it.
Jesus said "make friends for yourself by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings." (v9) The phrase "it fails" was translated from Greek word “ekleipó”, which means to fail, to cease, to expire or die. In this context it is saying that "when YOU fail", in other words, when you die.
Earthly money is considered "unrighteous" in the sense that there's no money in the kingdom of god. It is used only on earth, and sometimes it is used for bad things, other times it is for good things. He is saying we should use the unrighteous money you have to do righteous things and to make many friends and bring them to Christ, so that when you die, you will be accepted into heaven. (We do remember salvation is not by good things we do with our money. But the presumption is that we have accepted Jesus as our savior.
Jesus continued to say, that the one who is faithful in little is faithful in much. But if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth (i.e the "little things"), then how can you be trusted for true riches? In other words, if you use your wealth for your own interest, you will get nothing from God.
In verse 12, what Jesus is saying that just as the dishonest manager was accountable for his master’s possessions, we, too, are accountable for what God has entrusted to us. If cannot stewards the money he has given us, then how can God reward us our own assets?
A day of transition (rapture) is coming and will God judge us? What will God do to us when he judges us by our work? He will see if we obeyed him consistently. 1 Cor 3:12-15 is a judgement for rewards for our works.
Solomon said that whatever he wants, he took them. But everything is futile. There's nothing eternal in it. His conclusion: to keep the commandments of God and keep his value. We think eternal is time, but in the bible it is the qualify of time.
There are only two future. Either fear, sadness and pain, or be in the kingdom of God. If you want the kingdom, do you want to be ordinary in the kingdom or to be great in the kingdom? Jesus indeed encouraged us to aspire for greatness in the kingdom of God. In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus contrasts the world’s understanding of greatness with the kingdom of God: that true greatness lies in servanthood and selflessness. In God’s kingdom, greatness is not about power, prestige, or authority over others. Instead, it’s about humility, compassion, and serving one another.
All of us have an end in death. We should never fear death, but death does brings an end to our current life. We will be raptured and receive a new body. From then on we don't have to submit as we will not have the ability to sin. If we want to be great we need to secure it now, and not when we have our new bodies.
3. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14
This parable conveys a powerful message about the importance of humility, repentance, and the recognition of our dependence on God's mercy for justification. It challenges conventional notions of righteousness and highlights the transformative power of a humble and contrite heart.
Jesus spoke to those "who trusted in themselves that were righteousness, and viewed others with contempt." (v9) The parables starts with two (in conflict, different) men - pharisee and a tax collector - want up to the temple to pray (in Hebrew, not only intercession but also great scrutiny what we say to God and listening to God which brings revelation to us. We meet to hear from God but God does not need to hear us cause he know what we want)
A tax collector was considered a betrayer by those in Israel, as he is serving the Romans, their occupier. The Romans ask him to collect tax up to a certain amount, if he collects more, it will go to him. They are considered apostates. They have no reason or place to bin the temple.
The word "pharisee" means to be an interpreter of Jewish law, so they need to know Gods law and to teach others. However, instead of studying the law, they follow their own tradition, and misled all the people. Jesus told them they are interested in their own way but not the way of God.
The pharisee thank God for his self-righteousness. He said he is better than the tax collector. He said he fasted twice a week - Monday and Thursday - and tithe "everything" he has. Note that there were no praise to God at all.
Worship means to come near to God...like going to the King and saying things related to his characters and objective. If he doesn't like what you said. that's the end of you. Worship is experiencing God and changes me. It is not to change God. However. the pharisee did not expect to be changed.
The tax collector stands far off, as he doesn't feel comfortable near God. He doesn't even dare to look up. He beat his breast (right arm hitting his heart breast) - while pleading for God's mercy. He called himself a sinner, while the pharisee call himself righteous.
Jesus said the tax collector went to his house justified - in other words, he has been made righteous by God. Same righteousness that Jesus had given us. Those who exalt himself will be brought down, but those who humbles himself will be exalted.
God recognised the worship of the tax collector but not of the pharisee.
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