Lesson 7 · August 18, 1894
The Lost Found.—Luke 15:1-32
There is but one subject treated of in this chapter, and that is indicated in the title of the lesson. But it is considered under three heads, namely, "The Lost Sheep," "The Lost Piece of Money," and "The Prodigal Son." These are all familiar stories. See how minutely you can relate them.
- 1.Who drew near to hear Jesus?
- 2.In what words did the scribes and Pharisees murmur against Him?
- 3.What did this call forth from Jesus?
- 4.Relate the first parable.
- 5.How long does the man in the parable seek the lost sheep?
- 6.How does he feel when he finds it?
- 7.What does he do when he reaches home?
- 8.What lesson did Jesus teach from this?
- 9.What was the second parable?
- 10.What does the woman do when she has lost the piece of silver?
- 11.What when she finds it?
- 12.What lesson does Jesus teach from this?
- 13.Relate the third parable.
- 14.What did the younger of the two sons receive from his father?
- 15.What did he do with it?
- 16.How reduced were his circumstances?
- 17.What took place then?
- 18.When he came to himself, what did he say?
- 19.What did he do?
- 20.What took place when "he was yet a great way off"?
- 21.Did his father accept him as a servant?
- 22.How did he treat him?
- 23.What was the general feeling over the returned son?
- 24.How did the elder son feel?
- 25.What was the father's reply?
Notes
1. "This man receiveth sinners." That which the Pharisees uttered as a reproach against Jesus, is His greatest glory. It is a glory to Him, and He glories in it. He is not ashamed to receive sinners. "He is not ashamed to call them brethren." . "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God." He receives us when we offer ourselves to Him as servants, and makes us sons. "Henceforth I call you not servants; . . . but I have called you friends." . "Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." .
2. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." If you are not very watchful, you will find yourself reading according to the common way, "There is joy among the angels over one sinner that repenteth." This is doubtless true, but it is not what the text says. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God." This includes the other thought, and adds infinitely more to it. God Himself is not ashamed to exhibit in the presence of the angels His great joy over one repentant sinner. What more could be said to encourage poor wanderers? It is not that God will not cast off the repentant one, but that He is overflowing with joy at his return. He cannot and does not attempt to conceal His great joy when even one sinner repents. He watches for him and rushes to meet him when he is yet a long way off.
> "For the love of God is broader > Than the measure of man's mind; > And the heart of the Eternal > Is most wonderfully kind."
3. In studying the parable of the prodigal son, do not lose the preciousness of it by allowing your mind to run off into speculation as to who are indicated by the two sons. Whoever you are, the parable means you. Granted that the hard elder brother represents the position of the Pharisees toward the publicans and the Gentiles, we must still remember that the race of Pharisees is not yet extinct. We are either the prodigal son returning to the Father's house, or else we are the carping elder brother. And the worst of the second case is that we are actually in as hard circumstances as the prodigal, and unconscious of it. See . Let us be content in studying this chapter to feast upon the revelation of the wonderful love of God, that we may be the more closely drawn to Him. Let this word concerning Christ be ever in our minds, "This Man receiveth sinners."
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