Every Person We Encounter Is Important to God
Tim Melton
Luke 15:1-32
In Luke 15:1-32 we find three parables. Parables were often fictitious stories that were used to reveal a point or a lesson in response to a given situation or dilemma.
In Jesus´ day, amongst the Jews, if you wanted to teach an idea or a truth to your listeners you didn't use technical statistics or formal definitions as our culture might. Instead, it was best done with word pictures.
Word pictures do not focus on the details and the legalistic minutiae. Instead, they bring out over-arching truths, values and lessons. Parables are more likely to connect with one´s emotions and when used by Jesus they often touch one´s spiritual imagination and how it could be applied in the listener´s life.
There was also a sense of mystery to the parables. Those whose hearts were teachable and sensitive to the Spirit often would discover and be impacted by the underlying truth in the story. They could ''see'' themselves in the story and humbly apply it to their lives. Those whose hearts were hardened often missed the whole point of the parable because they did not have ''ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to obey.''
Jesus´ use of parables have allowed His teachings to continue to minister to people throughout the ages. Their general truths can be applied regardless of time and culture.
Let us now turn to Luke 15.
''1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ''This man receives sinners and eats with them.''
William Barclay tells of how the Pharisees gave a title to those who did not keep their strict religious law. They referred to these ''sinners'' as the ''People of the Land.'' There was a complete barrier between the Pharisees and the ''People of the Land.'' It was said,
''To marry a daughter to one of them was like exposing her bound and helpless to a lion. The Pharisaic regulations laid it ...
Tim Melton
Luke 15:1-32
In Luke 15:1-32 we find three parables. Parables were often fictitious stories that were used to reveal a point or a lesson in response to a given situation or dilemma.
In Jesus´ day, amongst the Jews, if you wanted to teach an idea or a truth to your listeners you didn't use technical statistics or formal definitions as our culture might. Instead, it was best done with word pictures.
Word pictures do not focus on the details and the legalistic minutiae. Instead, they bring out over-arching truths, values and lessons. Parables are more likely to connect with one´s emotions and when used by Jesus they often touch one´s spiritual imagination and how it could be applied in the listener´s life.
There was also a sense of mystery to the parables. Those whose hearts were teachable and sensitive to the Spirit often would discover and be impacted by the underlying truth in the story. They could ''see'' themselves in the story and humbly apply it to their lives. Those whose hearts were hardened often missed the whole point of the parable because they did not have ''ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to obey.''
Jesus´ use of parables have allowed His teachings to continue to minister to people throughout the ages. Their general truths can be applied regardless of time and culture.
Let us now turn to Luke 15.
''1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ''This man receives sinners and eats with them.''
William Barclay tells of how the Pharisees gave a title to those who did not keep their strict religious law. They referred to these ''sinners'' as the ''People of the Land.'' There was a complete barrier between the Pharisees and the ''People of the Land.'' It was said,
''To marry a daughter to one of them was like exposing her bound and helpless to a lion. The Pharisaic regulations laid it ...
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