Day 16 - Luke 14:1-35 and Day 17 - Luke 15:1-32
In this 30 day study, we are reading all the teachings of Jesus. Have you noticed that His teachings often don't make sense according to the conventional wisdom of the world?
His teachings tell that we are strong when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:10), that the meek shall inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11), and that we should love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44).
This passage is full of teachings that seem to contradict what the world tells us.
In Luke 14:11, Jesus tells us that if we humble ourselves, we will be exalted. In Luke 14:26, He says that if we want to be His disciples we must hate our families and ourselves. **This does not mean that we should literally hate our families, but that we should love Jesus so much more than we love anything or anyone else that our love for them looks like hate when compared to our love for Christ.**
Then, in Luke 15, we read about the lost sheep and the prodigal son. The Pharisees were still trying to trick Jesus into breaking their laws and they called Him out for eating with sinners. He explained to them that all of Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents (see Luke 15:1-10).
Jesus drives home His point with the parable of the Prodigal Son. The son is drawn in by the lies of the world. He believes that his inheritance and independence will be all he needs to be happy. And he is happy, for a short while. But when the money runs out, he realizes that he is lost. The Bible says, "when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, i have sinned against heaven and before thee." (Luke 15:17-18)
The son thought that the things of the world would fulfill his longings, but they didn't. He ended up coming home, and His father rejoiced at his return - just like our Father rejoices when just one sinner repents.
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