30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 15 11-32 To seek and the save the lost - The prodigal son 04 An outward show
📖 Luke 15:11-32
15Feb2020 - *An outward show* - _Luke 15:11-32_ - Bible reading: _Ezekiel 20:1-9_
We must keep in mind that the Lord is giving these three parables in Luke 15 to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who thought that they had no need for repentance. Friends, there is just one way to come into a relationship with God. All of us, whoever we may be, have to enter through that door of repentance from our ‘self’ and by surrendering to the lordship of Christ, over us. If we don’t, we cannot enter into eternal life.
The younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance. This request of the younger son is frightening because the inheritance is usually divided at the death of the parent. By asking for his share of the inheritance, the younger son was letting his father know that he has considered his father as dead. We can imagine the father’s heart. How sad and heartbroken he would have been at his son’s request but the father gave both of them, their portions.
The elder brother was no different. If he had love for the father, he should have refused to take the inheritance, by affirming his love and surrender to the father's will. He remained in the house but yet considered his father, dead.
This was the condition of the Pharisees and the religious leaders. They seemed as though they had not gone the way of the wayward son, but remaining in the house, they had no relationship with the Father. The father's heart is broken for not one, but for both his sons.
_Ezekiel 33:31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain._
God’s concern over us is that we want God for our convenience. We want God to bless us, protect us, provide for us and take care of us, which He does, for He is our Father. The sad state is, are we in a love relationship with Him, and are we in obedience to His will and lordship over us?
_Ezekiel 20:1-9 It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. (2) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (3) “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you." ' (4) Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers. (5) "Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, 'I am the LORD your God.' (6) On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, 'flowing with milk and honey,' the glory of all lands. (7) Then I said to them, 'Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' (8) But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, 'I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.' (9) But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt._ God’s purpose was to lift up His name among the Gentiles through the obedience of His people but that was not to be. It is the same today. We are to lift up Jesus, to our world, through our obedience but we come to God, not to obey Him but to seek benefits from Him.
_Jeremiah 6:16-17 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' (17) Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.' Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,_
*Thought to ponder*
We have framed our own ‘dos and don’ts’ to put up *an outward show* of our love for God, but the motives of our heart are for our own gain.