Today's Reading:

Luke 14
Luke 15

In the parable of the lost son, the older son has already inherited everything and is at home doing what is expected, so by his own reasoning, Jesus (and the Father’s open celebration) should not even be a factor for him. The parable closely echoes the relationship between Jesus and the religious leaders of Judah: they already possess the Father’s love, covenant, and inheritance, yet they resent the welcome given to those who return. When the younger son (standing for disobedient Israel, and by extension anyone who has wandered) comes home, the Father runs to meet him, embraces him, and throws a feast. That same grace extends to both Israel and the Gentiles. God actively seeks the lost and comes with open arms to the sinner who repents- whether the one who left home or the one who never left but still needs to come in from the field and join the celebration. The grace is not earned by the younger son’s return or diminished by the older son’s obedience; it is the Father’s free, seeking, and rejoicing love offered to both.

If everything already belongs to the older son, why does the Father still have to invite him into the celebration?

Chapter 14 started out on another Sabbath. The Pharisees and experts in the law had already scrutinized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath multiple times. Now He asked the leaders flat out, “Is it lawful or not?” The leaders kept quiet. Jesus continued to show mercy and compassion and healed the man. Continuing at the table, Jesus noticed how the guests were competing for a greater seat at the table to be nearer to the host. They all wanted their status to be known. Jesus explained that self-promotion risks shame. He advised them to choose humility and wait to be invited to the elite seat.

While at the table, Jesus went on to discuss the common practices of eating with family and friends. He warned them to make sure they were not inviting someone to their table in order to get a return invite. It was normal to invite someone in hopes of a return invite for the status of being seen at that table. There is a blessing in being generous and inviting those who can do nothing for you in return. The reward comes from God, not the guests.

A man at the table understood, which prompted Jesus to tell the Parable of the Great Banquet. This is the blessing of the anticipated Kingdom Feast. One man invited his guests to a feast. They had various excuses as to why they could not attend. The master of the house then had the servants invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. The point is that God’s Kingdom is available to the open and ready, and not one who was originally invited would be allowed to come. Do not treat the invitation lightly or put other things like property, business, and family first. The feast will go on, and it will be full regardless. Those who were originally overlooked will be invited to the table.

Jesus deliberately used the shocking word “hate” when he said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters- yes, even their own life- such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). He made clear that He must be honored as the number one priority in your life. To carry your cross is to walk the path towards execution. In Roman times, the cross was used for public shaming and death. So following Jesus as a disciple means being loyal and ready to accept what comes with that way of life. It is not to be taken lightly. You must give up everything, including all self-interests. Jesus said to put Him before family and yourself, and to carry the cross. You must count the cost of following Him. He spoke about the image of salt again, to show the demand of self-denial: those who truly hear must accept these standards if they are to be his disciples. Half-hearted followers, he warned, are as useless as salt that has lost its saltiness.

In chapter 15, the Pharisees and lawyers saw that the tax collectors and sinners gathered to hear Jesus. So Jesus told the three parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son. With the sheep, if the shepherd lost one, he would celebrate when it was found. There is more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. The woman with the coin tore her house apart to find the one lost coin. There is joy in the presence of the angels over that one who is found. When the lost son finally comes to his senses and returns home, the father runs to meet him and the household erupts in celebration, because what was dead has come alive again and what was lost has been found. In every case, God’s joy is overflowing when even one who was lost is restored to Him.

Today's Discussion question:

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