"Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”1
The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. At different times of the day, he calls them and puts them to work. The last he hires just before the day ends. When he asks the foreman to call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first, those who were hired first complained about the wage being the same as those who were hired last. The master replies, "Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."10
Jesus said that a slave has no inheritance in the house, but a son does. So even the son who squandered his inheritance, but who repented, the father shows compassion on. "I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants." But He runs to him, for he was lost, but now is found. There is even mercy for the older son, who despised this outpouring of compassion by the Father, who said to the father, "look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command..."
"Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."11
Much like the older son in the prodigal son story, the wage earners who came first complained they did not receive more. There is another Son, he is perfect, obedient to the Father, the Righteous One who loves his brethren, who laid down his life for them. Paul writes it is the kindness of God that leads us to Him, "do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"12 True sons do not despise grace, they are like the Father, not envious of the brother who squandered his inheritance, who came last. The first put forth the last, and celebrate with the Father, "for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”
"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,"14
They called Jesus a drunkard and a glutton, for hanging out with sinners. If he came today, some would do the same. But wait did not Jesus say what you do to the least of these His brethren you do to Him? yes, you are His child if He dwells in you. Jesus came to do the will of the Father, that none of His would be lost. These are the words of Christ, "for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."2 And "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."3 "And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless."4 The kingdom of God is about receiving sinners, yes, it is about you.
"there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."5
The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?"6 And again He says "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?"7 Yes, little child you are more important than a coin, "just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”8
"I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."12
It is about you, the little child that is last, least. Jesus who was with God and was God, became flesh not to condemn but to save. He condemned sin in the flesh and gives us the means to do so through sanctification, "And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."14 He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." He sends disciples also into the world to find those that are lost and to sanctify those that are found. "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." Yes, it is about you little child, he came that you may have eternal life, and this life is in the Son who came to save and to sanctify those the Father gives Him.
Flawless
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."10
Jesus said that a slave has no inheritance in the house, but a son does. So even the son who squandered his inheritance, but who repented, the father shows compassion on. "I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants." But He runs to him, for he was lost, but now is found. There is even mercy for the older son, who despised this outpouring of compassion by the Father, who said to the father, "look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command..."
"Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."11
Much like the older son in the prodigal son story, the wage earners who came first complained they did not receive more. There is another Son, he is perfect, obedient to the Father, the Righteous One who loves his brethren, who laid down his life for them. Paul writes it is the kindness of God that leads us to Him, "do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"12 True sons do not despise grace, they are like the Father, not envious of the brother who squandered his inheritance, who came last. The first put forth the last, and celebrate with the Father, "for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”
"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,"14
They called Jesus a drunkard and a glutton, for hanging out with sinners. If he came today, some would do the same. But wait did not Jesus say what you do to the least of these His brethren you do to Him? yes, you are His child if He dwells in you. Jesus came to do the will of the Father, that none of His would be lost. These are the words of Christ, "for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."2 And "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."3 "And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless."4 The kingdom of God is about receiving sinners, yes, it is about you.
"there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."5
The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?"6 And again He says "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?"7 Yes, little child you are more important than a coin, "just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”8
"I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."12
It is about you, the little child that is last, least. Jesus who was with God and was God, became flesh not to condemn but to save. He condemned sin in the flesh and gives us the means to do so through sanctification, "And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."14 He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." He sends disciples also into the world to find those that are lost and to sanctify those that are found. "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." Yes, it is about you little child, he came that you may have eternal life, and this life is in the Son who came to save and to sanctify those the Father gives Him.
Flawless