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| 1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. |
Publicans – The publicans were Jews who had become somewhat estranged to their laws and to the patriotic sentiments of the nation, and who accepted service under the Romans as tax-gatherers. R3360:2
Being cast off from the sympathies and friendship of the Jews in general, they were naturally less influenced by their prejudices and hence more ready to receive the truth. R1783:3
And sinners – The sinners were the more or less immoral, who made no professions of keeping the Mosaic Law, observances of the more sacred rites and ceremonies, holy days, etc. R3360:2
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| 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. |
Pharisees and scribes – The scribes and the Pharisees held themselves aloof from the common people--the scribes, because the masses were illiterate; and the Pharisees, under the claim that the people were sinners, cut off from relationship to God. R5426:3
Whose holiness was of a hypocritical character, delighting in outward show rather than in purity and holiness of heart. R2706:2
They refused to acknowledge others as brethren and fellow-heirs of the divine promises. R2706:2
Murmured – Whatever did not harmonize with their standards they could only contest. Their difficulty in part was that they had too high an opinion of themselves. R5426:6
For his having anything to do with the disreputable backsliders. R1460:1
Their view was earthly, selfish, proud, haughty, not pleasing to God. R5427:2
Receiveth sinners – His superior knowledge did not make him haughty, and his superior righteousness did not make him proud and unsympathetic. R5426:3
This inclined them to repudiate Jesus, whom they would have been glad to have had as one of their number if he had been willing to be known as a Pharisee and to conform to their customs. R2706:2
When they found that he received sinners, they began to realize that his righteousness was a different sort from theirs, and, as darkness is opposed to light, they hated him. R1460:1
There was a measure of truth in the assertion of the Pharisees that the majority of people were living in sin, neglecting the divine Law, and thus living much after the manner of the Gentiles. R3360:1
But the Pharisees, accustomed to thinking of themselves as the holier class of the Jews, had gradually separated themselves from the lower elements of the people, so that in our Lord's time the two classes mingled very little. R2706:2
Publicans and harlots were not made the subjects of special missionary efforts. It was when these classes came to his ministry, manifested interest therein and signs of repentance and reformation, that he received them cordially. R2414:2
Bible Students should always seek to view the jewels of the Lord's Word in the settings in which they have been placed. To neglect this is to lose a portion of the lesson intended. R5426:3
Even his disciples were shocked that he should converse with a woman of Samaria. (John 4:27) CR125:3
There is no intimation that our Lord went "slumming" after them. R2414:2
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| 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, |
Spake this parable – By way of reproof to the murmuring of the Pharisees and scribes, to correct their wrong ideas. R1958:2, 2706:2
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| 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
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What man of you – Representing the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), as the representative of the Father, the Great Shepherd (Psa. 23:1). R2706:5, 5427:2
An hundred sheep – Representing the entire family of God. R3798:4
A sheep, a docile creature, always represents one who wills to be in harmony with God and in the fold. A goat is the Lord's symbol for the wayward and willful. R1216:3
One of them – The one stray sheep represents Adam and his family. R5427:2, 3835:2, 3798:4, 2706:3, 1217:1
The race was lost, not merely a few, the Church; and their recovery is to include all that was lost. R5427:4
The lost sheep, which originally was represented in one (Adam and Eve), in its recovery will be represented by hundreds of millions of the redeemed and restored of mankind. R2707:2
To suppose it to represent the degraded element of humanity and the ninety-nine sheep a holiness class would be inconsistent because "There is none righteous, no not one" (Rom. 3:10), and "We all like sheep have gone astray" (Isa. 53:6); the illustration would be inapt because it is only a small minority that are in a condition of harmony with Jehovah. R2706:3
Representing Adam and the human family. "All we like sheep have gone astray." (Isa. 53:6) "There is none righteous, no not one." (Rom. 3:10) R2706:3, 5427:2, 3835:2, 3798:4, 1217:1
Doth not leave – Leaving them well cared for by under-shepherds in the wilds (not in a desert). R2706:3
Representing our Lord Jesus, leaving the glory which he had with the Father before the world was, and coming into human conditions in the interest of mankind. R2706:3, 1217:1
The ninety and nine – Just persons, needing no repentance, representing the holy angels. R5427:2, 2706:3, 1217:1
In the wilderness – The true Church is the Church in the wilderness, separate from the world, and under divine protection and guidance. R1841:6
And go – Representing the Lord's first advent. R2706:5
That which is lost – Our Lord did not deny that the publicans and sinners were in the wrong and in some respects further estranged from God than were the Pharisees, but he wanted the latter to see that they should not feel so indifferent toward their brethren. R3360:3
Lost, as used in connection with mankind, has quite a different meaning in the Bible from that commonly given it in modern theology. R2706:1
"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save [recover] that which was lost." ( Luke 19:10) R5427:4
Until he find it – His mercy will pursue the lost sheep until every member of Adam's race shall have been brought to a knowledge of the truth and to a full opportunity of returning to the fold of God. R5427:3
Any who, after being found and rescued by the Shepherd, follow him not, but prefer to follow Satan, will no longer be counted the Lord's sheep; for his sheep are those who hear his voice and follow him. R1217:1
Restore it to its original condition--restitution. R2706:5
How much am I sacrificing of my time and strength in going after the lost sheep? R5427:5
All the willing and obedient. R5427:4
Until every member of Adam's race shall have been brought to a knowledge of the truth, and an opportunity of returning to the fold of God. R5427:3
An illustration of the divine care. R2706:3
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| 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
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When he hath found it – Already the sheep is found, in the sense of being located; indeed, in that sense of the word it was not lost. It will require the entire Millennial age to bring back the sheep in the full, perfect sense of the parable. R2706:5
Having restored to perfection all of the human family who possess sheep characteristics. R2707:2
Recovered, brought back, by process of restitution. (Acts 3:19-21) R2706:5
Rejoicing – Illustrates the attitude of God and the holy angels. R5427:1
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| 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
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He cometh home – Bringing the lost back to the fold--to fellowship with God and the enjoyment of his favor, everlasting life. R3835:2
Not that all will be universally and everlastingly saved, but that all will be brought to conditions of salvation, to a clear knowledge of the truth and to a full opportunity for accepting the same. R3798:4
We do not yet see the sheep recovered. We do see God selecting the members of the Good Shepherd to prepare to join in this work of seeking the lost sheep during the Millennial age. R2706:5, 1217:1
According to orthodoxy, eternal torment; but from the Scriptural standpoint, having wandered from God into sin and degradation. R2706:2
The fall of man and our imperfections to not stand as a bar if we return to God, who will abundantly pardon. R5427:1
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| 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
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Joy shall be in heaven – They have a special feeling of interest in those who have strayed, and especially rejoice in the recovery of such. R5427:1
In proportion as we become Godlike we have an interest in sinners--especially in those who, through heredity or evil environment, are more deeply steeped in sin, ignorance and superstition. R5427:3
Like the angels' song in Luke 2:13,14, this shows how the angels of God are interested in the affairs of men, and how they sympathize with us and rejoice over our prosperity. R1478:6
That repenteth – All mankind, in coming back to God, must come back repentantly, and there is joy in heaven over all the human family as they come back in harmony with God and in harmony with righteousness. Q510:T
Whether he come back now under the condition of the Gospel call, or whether he shall come back in the next age under Messiah's Kingdom. Q510:T
The interest is in the repentant one or in the one who has not sinned beyond repentance. Any sheep, having been found by the Shepherd, and then preferring the wolfish, would no longer be interesting to the heavenly ones. R5427:2
What, then, will be the joy in heaven when the Body of Christ is received into glory? R1821:3
Ninety and nine just persons – The angels of heaven, alone, would seem to fit this description, as being just persons who need no repentance. Q510:T
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| 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
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Ten pieces of silver – Prized as a marriage memento. R3360:3
It was the custom among Jewish women to wear on the forehead a fringe of coin bangles. These might be of gold or silver, and sometimes represented her dowry. R5427:4
The women of those times usually wore a bracelet on which was fastened ten coins. Such a bracelet was generally the gift of the bridegroom at the time of marriage, and each piece associated with it was highly esteemed by its wearer. R3835:3, 2707:2
Each had stamped upon it, as is the custom with coin, a certain image or likeness. And so all the sons of God, including angels and archangels, are made in the image and likeness of God. It was one of these that was lost--the human one, man. R2707:3
The human piece, mankind--the dirt floor of the home representing the defilements which have obscured the divine likeness ever since man's fall. R2707:4
Lose one piece – Representing more than its intrinsic value; its loss marred the beauty of the whole. R5427:4
Sweep the house – The lighting of the candle and the diligently sweeping represent the work of God through the Christ, which will be accomplished by the end of the Millennial age. R2707:4
Seek diligently – An illustration of divine energy on behalf of lost humanity. R2707:3
Not that the woman represents divine energy. Q739:2
Till she find it – "That which was lost." ( Luke 19:10) R2707:4, 5427:4
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| 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
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And when – At the end of the Millennial age. R2707:4
Rejoice with me – Representing the time coming when all things in heaven and on earth will rejoice in the full accomplishment of the Lord's work. R2707:5
Which I had lost – The Scriptures use the word "lost" in reference to the original loss, and not at all in respect to those who will be destroyed in the second death--the latter are not said to be lost; they cease to exist. R2707:3
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| 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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There is joy – We are sure that the angels in heaven rejoice to see the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the love of God as exhibited toward his fallen creatures. R3631:5
This must be the attitude of the Lord's people today, a feeling of loving interest in the recovery of others from sin, and a disposition to assist them back to harmony with God. R2707:5
Over one sinner – The great time of rejoicing will come at the close of the Millennial age; but now, in advance, all the heavenly host rejoices in every evidence of the accomplishment of the great work. R2707:5
The manufacturer should ask himself, To what extent am I allowing the accumulation of coin to interfere with the giving of proper protection to my employees and all for whose welfare I have a responsibility? R5427:5
Each Christian should ask himself, How much of my time am I giving in helping my fellow-men out of their difficulties and trials back to God? R5427:5
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| 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
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And he said – Seeking, in this parable, to show the Pharisees that their position respecting the publicans and sinners was wrong. R5434:6
A certain man – Evidently representing Jehovah God. R5435:1, 3360:3, 2708:1
Had two sons – Originally all the Jews entered into covenant relationship with God, and thus became, typically, his sons. R1460:1
Cannot represent Jews and Gentiles or Little Flock and Great Company. R1459:3
While illustrating the two classes into which the Jewish nation divided itself, the principles set forth in the parable are more generally applicable. R5435:4, 2708:1
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| 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
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And the younger – Representing the publicans and sinners. R3836:1
Representing the common people, not so strict in their ideals. They were known to others, and acknowledged by themselves, as publicans and sinners--not attempting to live godly lives. R5435:1, 3836:1, 3360:3, 2708:1, 1958:2, 1459:6, 1460:1; PD60/72; Q554:7
Representing, in a secondary sense, all the remainder of mankind outside of those few in Israel who were seeking to do the Father's will. R2708:4
There is still the Lazarus class, the returned prodigal class, to which the Father is pleased to grant riches of grace, the robe of righteousness, the feast of fat things and the ring, symbolizing his eternal love and mercy. R3836:2
Gentiles cannot have been meant or illustrated by the prodigal son, for they had never been sons, and could not have left the Father's house when they were never in it. R1459:3
The class of today described by Rom. 1:21,22, 24,26,28,29. R3361:1
Give me the portion – It was the custom that the elder son should inherit the principle part of the estate if he chose to remain at home. The younger sons were usually given some portion and allowed to embark in some other business or profession. R3835:3
He divided unto them – They were inheritors together of certain wonderful blessings and promises. R2708:1
Not that the father unwisely retained nothing to himself, but that he gave a reasonable individual portion to each son, retaining the remainder, which, however, was intended for the elder son, if faithful, at the father's death. R3835:3
A man's estate is his stewardship from the Lord, and while children may be properly recognized in this stewardship, the responsibility of a Christian should extend beyond his own immediate offspring, while including them. R3835:5
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| 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
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The younger son – Careless of spiritual privileges and opportunities, estranged from God. PD60/72; R5435:1, 3360:2
Took his journey – The publicans and sinners should have been glad to remain under divine protection and care and to have enjoyed the Father's house and all of its blessings. R3360:4
A far country – Afar from God, in sin and disregard of the Law. R2708:1
Satan may be said to be master of this far country--afar from God, his love, protection and care. R3360:4
From one standpoint, nearly the whole world of mankind is still in a far country, in the land of the enemy, under the blinding influences of the god of this world. R3361:1
Riotous living – As a matter of fact, while the one had preserved and the other had wasted his inheritance, neither had rightly valued all that was implied in their share of the inheritance of Israel; and while the one had grievously sinned, neither was the other without sin. R1958:2
Misused their privileges and opportunities as members of the nation of Israel, their inheritance in the Law Covenant. R5435:1, 2708:1, 1958:2; Q554:7
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| 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
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In that land – In a foreign land, of which Satan is the master. R3835:5, 3360:4
To be in want – The publicans and sinners felt their degradation. They were spiritually hungry. They were ragged. R5435:1
Sin always brings misery in some form, and often in many forms. R1460:2
In slavery to sin and receiving sin's wages: discontent, unhappiness, heart-aches, body-aches. R2708:2
"The way of transgressors is hard." (Prov. 13:15) R2708:1
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| 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
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Swine – Representing the worldly, those engrossed in the things of the present time and wholly indifferent to spiritual matters. R3360:4
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| 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
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With the husks – Why dost thou toil among the husks of mammon, when to his rest the Father bids thee come? R1460:6*
The swine did eat – There was a difference between him and the swine, for while the swine could fill their bellies on the bean pods of the locust or carob tree, the prodigal found it hard to subsist on that diet. R3360:5
No man gave – He was in an attitude of want, of hunger, of dissatisfaction, discontent; a condition of sin and receiving sin's wages. R2708:2
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| 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
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He came to himself – Sin and degradation have brought unreason, unbalanced judgment, and have made the good to appear bad, the light to appear darkness, and the true to appear false, and contrariwise. R3361:6
He realized that he had been insane, stupid, dreaming, when he left so gracious a father's house and so great blessings as he had once enjoyed. R3360:5
Awakening to his dire necessities, remembering his father's abundance, realizing how stupid he had been to leave it. R5435:6, 3360:5
Thoroughly disgusted with his condition. R2708:2
It is of divine providence that our eyes open to see our need and our loss. R3361:6
Hunger – Starving for any satisfying portion, for the blessings of the home he had left. R3360:4,5
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| 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
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I will arise – The first thing that he did was to resolve to will, and then he proceeded to do. The willing would have amounted to nothing had it not been followed by the doing, but the doing could not have preceded the willing. R3360:5
It was the will of the elder son which for a time kept him in his father's house; it was the will of the prodigal that led him forth. Likewise, it was his own will that led him to retrace his steps; and it was only the will of the elder son that hindered him from entering in to the joys of the festal occasion. R2708:4
Being a despised and cast-out class, the publicans and sinners were ready to appreciate the love and kindness of the Lord. R1958:5
And go – Arise and go, before thy doubts shall harden. R1460:6*
Return in all thy rags of sin's defilement; return with all thy want and sore distress; thy Father's voice bespeaks his reconcilement: flee to his breast, and there thy guilt confess. R1460:3*
To my father – The proper attitude of all repentant ones--reliance upon the love and mercy of the Heavenly Father and the provision which he has made in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and for reception again to his love and care. R5435:6
I have sinned – God evidently wishes to have a class honest enough to acknowledge their own imperfections and their own unworthiness of his favors. R5435:5
The publicans and sinners realized in a large measure their own unworthiness, and sometimes smote upon their breasts saying, "God be merciful to be a sinner." ( Luke 18:13) R3836:1
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| 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
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Thy hired servants – Not expecting to be an inheritor, not hoping to be received as a son. R2708:2
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| 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
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Came to his father – With contrition of heart, and full confession of his error. R3362:4
Those who received Jesus' message included not many great, wise or noble, but chiefly penitent prodigals. PD60/72
The first returning prodigal under the new dispensation will be the poor Jew. R3361:2
Jesus represented the Father's house to the younger-son class. R5435:1
A great way off – In our Father's name, he would have us meet them, while they are yet a long way off, and encourage their return with assurances of a hearty welcome and a blessed feast. R1958:6
His father saw him – His elder brother, represented by the Pharisees, was not on the lookout for him; but the father, representing God, saw him a long way off--was looking for him. R3360:5
The time when the father accepted the prodigal was at Pentecost. R5435:2
Had compassion – The prodigal must will and strive to return, but the Father will meet him on the way to encourage him, receive him, bless him, and bring him into all the glorious things which he has in reservation for them who love him. R3361:6
And ran – Lest he should be discouraged in his fearfulness. R3360:5
Fell on his neck – Nothing in this parable shows the necessity for the ransom. It is evidently therefore the picture of the return of a backslidden son, and not that of the redemption of a condemned stranger and alien. R1460:5
How this must have touched the hearts of the publicans who heard--to think that God was willing to receive them back again, not to spurn them as the Pharisees did! R2708:2
This loving, helpful spirit is the spirit which the Lord would have all his people exercise toward even the most degraded of men who manifest any disposition to forsake sin and return to the right ways of the Lord. R1958:6
Kissed him – The seal of our reconciliation, the mark of our adoption into the divine family. R1460:5
The seal of the Father's love. R1958:6
His reception was as though he had never sinned. R3360:5
Not only were the publicans and sinners pardoned, but because of their penitence, they were granted special manifestations of God's favor. R5435:2
We are glad that our Heavenly Father gives us and our brothers and sisters and children opportunities to recover themselves after they have wandered into sin; opportunities to profit by the lessons of life and the sad experience of being aliens from God. R3361:4
The seal of our reconciliation and our adoption into the divine family, first applied at Pentecost. R1460:4, 5435:2
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| 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
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I have sinned – Let him not return in any self-righteous, self-excusing attitude of mind. He must go back as did the prodigal, with contrition of heart, full confession of error and a willingness to take the very lowest place in the Father's family as a servant. R3362:4
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| 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
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The best robe – The robe of Christ's righteousness, justification. (Isa. 61:10) R3836:1, 3361:5, 1958:6, 1460:4
The robe and all the blessings are provided through Christ as a covering for all the imperfections of the fallen nature. R5435:2
Replacing the filthy rags of our unrighteousness. R1460:4
A ring – Representing the witness of the spirit that we are sons and heirs. R1460:4
As a signet of his everlasting mercy, forgiveness and love, the Pentecostal blessing. R3836:1
A symbol of unending divine favor. R1958:6
Shoes on his feet – Preparing us for the sharp contact often to be experienced from the beggarly elements of the present evil world. R1460:4
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| 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
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The fatted calf – The feast of fat things provided for the sinners in Israel corresponds to the feast to be opened ultimately to the whole world of mankind under the Kingdom. (Isa. 25:6-8) R2708:4[R2708:6], 5435:2, 3836:1
Let us eat – The feast and merry-making represent the blessed promises of God and are the marriage-feast represented in another of our Lord's parables. (Matt. 22:2-14) R5435:3
God provides a "feast," a blessing which all may share, if they will. PD60/72
Represents the blessed promises of God to those covered by the robe of Christ's righteousness and begotten by the holy Spirit. R5435:3
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| 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
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Was dead – Having died to the privileges of his father's house, just the same as sinners are dead in trespasses and sins; so this son was dead to father, to home and every interest--a figurative situation in the Word. HG205:6
Is alive again – The parable ignores the second death. The son that was lost was lost in his going away into sin, and not lost in eternal torment. He was found in his return to God. He was dead, so far as the Father was concerned, when he was away; but he was alive again when he willingly returned. R2708:4
How grandly this illustrates to us the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the love of God. R5435:2, 3361:5
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| 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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His elder son – Representing those who sat in Moses' seat and who remained loyal to God in their outward profession, at least, and in their endeavors outwardly to keep his Law. R5435:1, 2708:1
The Pharisees and Doctors of the Law, who outwardly and theoretically were in harmony with God. R3835:6, 3360:3, 1958:2
Who customarily inherited the principal part of the estate if he remained at home with his father. R3835:3
The Pharisees and all who had respect unto their inheritance in the Law Covenant. R1958:2
The Pharisees, strict observers of God's Law, but proud, boastful, self-righteous. R1459:6, 3360:1, 1958:3, 1460:2
The Pharisaical class delighted to proclaim that they were the heirs of God's favor. R3360:2
Was in the field – Striving by daily obedience to the Law to remain at home with God. R3835:6
The elder brother, representing the Pharisees, was not on the lookout for his brother. R3360:5
In spiritual Israel there is a similar class--some who are self-righteous and self-confident, moral and religious, but who, like the Pharisees, lack the spirit of love to appreciate the Father's conduct. R3836:2
There are noble characters in the world who love to do right; nevertheless not many of this kind may be expected to be of the Kingdom class--not because God is unwilling, but their noble qualities make them less ready to accept the terms. R5435:4
This better class seem to feel that, in contrast with the lower strata of society, they are perfection itself, and that God would be sure to desire them. R5435:5
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| 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
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| 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
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| 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
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He was angry – How true to the facts was this picture of the Pharisees objecting to his telling those poor prodigals about the love of God and his willingness to forgive them, and to welcome them back home again. R1460:2
There are two ways of departing from the Father--open sin and wantonness, or a failure to attain the divine likeness in our hearts. There is more hope for those gone into sin returning to God than of some who, while outwardly moral and religious, fail to acquire the Lord's spirit of love and mercy. R3836:2
Lacked the spirit of love and hence was not at all prepared for the feast. R3836:1, 5435:3
Likewise the elder-brother class of Jews did not show the right spirit. R5435:3
The Pharisees were bitter, instead of being glad, to find the people hungering for God's Word. Q554:7
The attitude of the Pharisees--complaining, disappointed, offended, self-righteous, scorning the returning prodigal, angry with the Father because of his goodness. R2708:2, 3835:6, 3360:6, 1958:6
Today the message of restitution for a "groaning creation" (Rom. 8:22) is received in much the same manner. R2708:6
All who are in harmony with God will rejoice to see sinners returning to divine favor. Any other spirit will surely work injury, as it did to the Pharisees, who, as a class, were unfit in their selfishness to share the blessings God had or ever will have to offer. R1460:5
Would not go in – They were blameworthy in that they were proud of their religion and boasted of their goodness; and because they despised and spurned and would not recognize, nor speak to, nor eat with, the irreligious class. R1459:6
While the Pharisees were really in the most favorable position to receive the blessing, being schooled in the Law, the publicans and sinners were going into the kingdom before them simply because this "elder son" class had cultivated a spirit of pride and boastfulness. R1958:3
Jesus said, if you stay out, then you will stay out, for God is receiving the prodigals. Q555:T
The loss would be theirs, the gain would be that of the more humble minded. R3360:6, 2708:3
They thus showed that they lacked a very important quality of heart--they lacked the spirit of loving kindness, and hence were not at all prepared for the feast. R3836:1
The jealous spirit on the part of the Pharisees apparently kept many of them from appreciating the gift of God in Christ--they refused to enter in. R5435:3
As they were not in the right attitude of heart to receive their repentant brethren, neither would they have been in the right attitude of heart to be the Lord's instruments of general blessing in his Kingdom. R2708:3
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (Matt. 23:13) R1460:5
As in the parable of the marriage feast (Matt. 22:2-10), those who were originally bidden appreciated it not, dishonoring the host. R5435:4
Poor, self-righteous Pharisees! Their jealous spirit kept them from appreciating the gift of God in Christ. To this day they will not go in. R5435:3, 1460:4
Refusing to enter into the joys of the occasion. R3835:6, 3360:6
If they would not share the Father's hospitalities with the prodigal, they could not share them at all. R3360:6
There are similar classes among spiritual Israel now: the self-righteous, self-confident, moral and religious, but without love; and the returned prodigals to whom the Father grants riches of grace, mercy and truth. R3836:2
All who participate in the Gospel feast must come in under the Father's terms. R3360:6
Much the same spirit is manifested now by the outwardly religious, as they hear of the coming Times of Restitution, in which all the degraded of earth may return to the Father's love. R3361:1,5
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| 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
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Do I serve thee – The elder son represents the class which, having respect to the promises, enjoys the blessings at home with the Father, and is in fellowship with God as his people. R2708:1
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| 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
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This thy son – Declining to call the prodigal "brother." R2708:3
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| 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
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Is thine – Is for thee; may be yours if you will have it so. R3835:6
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| 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
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It was meet – The Lord showed them that they were angry with the Father because of his goodness. R3360:6
This thy brother – In contrast with the elder brother who said, "this thy son." R2708:3
Was dead – So far as the father was concerned, when he was away. R2708:4
Is alive again – When he willingly returned. R2708:4
Was lost – In his going away into sin; not lost in eternal torment. R2708:4
And is found – His return to God--the younger brother class realizing their need of forgiveness and help. R2708:4, 5435:5
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