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Luke 15 11-32 To seek and the save the lost - The prodigal son 01 An attitude of aloofness
📖 Luke 15:11-32
12Feb2020 - *An attitude of aloofness* _Luke 15:11-32_ - Bible reading: _Matthew 21:23-31_
We have completed the study of the second parable in Luke 15, which is the parable of the lost coin. Remember, the theme of the entire chapter is *to seek and to save the lost*. We now enter the very famous parable, which is the parable of the prodigal son.
_Luke 15:11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons._
Jesus, is addressing the Pharisees and the religious leaders. They felt that they had no need for repentance. What sin had they done? They compared themselves against the harlots and tax collectors and said to themselves, “We are not like these people. Yes, we may not be perfect but we have done a lot of good things in life and so God must accept us on our terms”.
Friends, there is just one way to come into a relationship with God. All of us, whoever we may be, have to enter through that door of repentance from our ‘self’ and surrendering to the lordship of Christ, over us. We have to come to the place of total dependence and trust in Jesus. If we don’t, we cannot enter into eternal life.
_Matthew 21:23-31 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" (24) But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: (25) The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' (26) But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." (27) So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things._
The religious leaders were jealous that people were flocking to Jesus but were not coming to them. They wanted the popularity that Jesus was having among the public. The Lord was confronting these religious leaders.
_(28) "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' (29) He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. (30) Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. (31) Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you._
The Lord was not denying the kingdom of God to the religious leaders but He was making them realise that they needed repentance and surrender to the lordship of Christ, just as anyone else. This was too difficult for these leaders to accept.
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you willing to remain in the place of childlike trust and dependence on Jesus, all the time?```