Read the Bible Through in a Year: Day 176
Luke 15-16
Luke 15: In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. The scribes and Pharisees are also critical of Jesus because he has allowed sinners to approach him and he has eaten with them.
Jesus tries to explain why He welcomes sinners. He begins by asking the scribes and Pharisees what they would do if a sheep they owned wandered off from the flock. He suggests that they would abandon the main flock in their effort to find the lost sheep, and would celebrate if they managed to find the sheep and bring it back. He says that it is the same in heaven, where more joy is expressed over one sinner repenting than over 99 who were good men.
Jesus goes on to give another example. Jesus asks them what a woman do if she had ten pieces of silver, but then lost one of them. He says she will do everything to find the lost piece, and will rejoice when she finds it.
Jesus gives yet another example of a situation where somebody would celebrate the recovery of something that is lost. He tells of a man with two sons. The youngest son asks his father for his inheritance. Upon receiving it, he departs the home and quickly squanders all his riches.
He is forced to work as a swineherd when the country is beset by famine, and has to eat the food meant for the pigs. He realizes that he is worse off than his father’s servants, and resolves to return home and beg forgiveness.
When he returns, he tells his father he is not worthy to be his son, and asks to be treated like a servant. However, his father instructs the servants to prepare a great feast. When the older son complains, his father tells him that the return of the younger son was like him returning from the dead.
Luke 16: Luke 16 shows Jesus continuing to teach his disciples in the form of parables. Jesus tells the tale of an untrustworthy steward. The parable is about a steward that is on the verge of being fired from his job. In order to save his job, he proceeds to write off some his master’s debtors’ debt. His master is pleased and commends him. The point of this parable is that you cannot be so consumed with achieving monetary possessions and yet still have room for God in your life. You must make a choice between material needs and receiving the gifts of the Father.
Jesus continues to speak through parables. There was a beggar named Lazarus that sat day and night in front of the home of a very wealthy man. Lazarus was malnourished and weak. He would only ask the very rich man for mere scraps of his leftovers. The wealthy man always refused. Eventually both men grew old and died. Lazarus goes to heaven, and the man of great wealth is sentenced to eternity in Hades. As the man who once had great wealth begged for the forgiveness of Abraham, he was met with disdain. The rich man had lived a lavish life on earth and he never cared about others.
What stood out to you in today’s readings? Put your thoughts or questions in the Comments and let’s learn and grow together.