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Showing posts from October 20, 2013

The "Sons of this World" - Luke 16.1-8

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You’ll need to have a Bible and start in Luke 15.1 and follow on into chapter 16 (or open this link up in a separate window ). Sons of this World Luke 16.1-8 The Back Story We must start clear back in Luke 15.1-3. There we quickly see the situation and the purpose of this section; “ tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear ” Jesus (1). This irked the religious elitists, the Pharisees and scribes, who whined that “ This man receives sinners and eats with them ” (2). That whine is a beautiful statement in itself, though it was meant to be demeaning and dismissive. Because of that statement Jesus tells three stories “to them” (3), to the Pharisees and scribes. The first is the story of the lost sheep, where the shepherd leaves behind the 99 and searches out the one who is lost. When he finds it, there is great joy and rejoicing, a celebration. “ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine r