The tale of two sons – Part 4

Introduction –

§  This is a parable about salvation. A story of a father who loves his two sons.

§  It is also a story of two kinds of sinners.

-          Matthew 21:28-31ܡܬܝ ܟܐ:28 – 31 

-          The sinner can't choose whether to sin or not to sin, but he can be free to choose what kind of sinner he will be. 

1)      Shameful reaction – Luke 15:25-28ܓ̰ܘܵܓ̰ܵܐ ܡܲܢܚܸܦܲܢܬܵܐ (ܓ̰ܪ. 25 – 28)  

§  He became angry (vs. 28)

-          Luke 5:33ܠܘܩܐ ܗ:33

-          Luke 19:7ܠܘܩܐ ܝܛ:7 

§  He was not willing to go in (vs. 28)

-          Matthew 23:13ܡܬܝ ܟܓ:13 

-          Augustine said, "Free will without grace has the power to do nothing but sin.”

§  And his father came out and began entreating him (vs. 28)

-          Luke 19:10ܠܘܩܐ ܝܛ:10 

-          He goes out in mercy and he reaches to the hypocrite the same way he reached to the rebel.

2)      Shameful response - Luke 15:29-31ܓ̰ܵܘܲܒܬܵܐ ܡܲܢܚܸܦܲܢܬܵܐ (ܓ̰ܪ. 29 – 31) 

§  He answered and said to his father, 'Look... '" (vs. 29)

§  For so many years I have been your slave. (vs. 29)

§  And I have never neglected a command of yours. (vs. 29)

-          Matthew 19 & Luke 18

§  And yet you have never given me a goat, that I might be merry with my friends (vs. 29)

-          Classic description of the Pharisees who associated only with themselves

§  He questions his father’s character and integrity (vs. 30)

-          Deuteronomy 21:18-21ܬܢܝܢ ܢܡܘܣܐ ܟܐ:18 – 21 

3)      Shameful resolution – Luke 15:31-32ܦܠܵܛܵܐ ܡܲܢܚܸܦܲܢܬܵܐ (ܓ̰ܪ. 31 – 32) 

§  He said to him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. (vs. 31)

-          John 6:37ܝܘܚܢܢ ܘ:37 

§  We had to be merry (vs. 32)

§  This is what causes joy to God.  This is heaven's joy. 

Conclusion: What happened to the ending?