Lesson #63

THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST
LESSON #63
THE PARABLE OF LOST POSSESSIONS (LUK 15:1-32)

• MEMORY VERSE: LUK 19:10

• THE PARABLE OF THE LOST POSSESSIONS (LUK 15:1-32)
• READ LUK 15:1-32
• THE ENTIRE CHAPTER OF LUK 15 IS ONE PARABLE HAVING 3 SEPARATE ILLUSTRATIONS: #1 THE SHEEP, #2 THE COIN, #3 THE SON.
• WHY IS THE PARABLE GIVEN IN THREE ILLUSTRATIONS?
• THE NUMBER, 3, IN THE BIBLE REPRESENTS THE HOLY TRINITY OF GOD, THE FATHER; JESUS CHRIST, THE SON; AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• THEREFORE, THIS PARABLE WILL GIVE US AN ILLUSTRATION OF EACH MEMBER OF THE HOLY TRINITY.
• TO WHOM IS THE PARABLE SPOKEN?
• JESUS SPOKE THIS PARABLE TO A MIXED MULTITUDE INCLUDING TAX COLLECTORS, SINNERS, PHARISEES, AND SCRIBES.
• THE PARABLE WAS PROMPTED BY THE STATEMENT IN VERSE 2.
• “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” (2)
• SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:
• NOTICE THAT THE LOST SHEEP REPRESENTS 1% LOSS (1 OUT OF A 100). NOTICE THAT THE LOST COIN REPRESENTS 10% LOSS (1 OUT OF 10). NOTICE THAT THE LOST SON REPRESENTS 50% LOSS (1 OUT OF 2).
• THE SENTIMENTAL VALUE OF THE LOST OBJECT INCREASES WITH EACH ILLUSTRATION, WITH THE SON BEING THE MOST VALUABLE.
• THE SEARCH VARIES:
• WITH THE LOST SHEEP, THE SHEPHERD ACTIVELY SEARCHES WITH DIVINE TENDERNESS USING THE LOVE QUALITIES OF COURAGE AND ENDURANCE.
• WITH THE LOST COIN, THE WOMAN ACTIVELY SEARCHES WITH DILIGENCE USING THE LOVE QUALITIES OF PATIENCE AND OBSERVATION.
• WITH THE LOST SON, THE FATHER WAITS. THERE IS NO ACTIVE SEARCH. HE WAITS FOR THE Return OF THE SON WITH DIVINE PATIENCE USING THE LOVE QUALITIES OF LONGSUFFERING ENDURANCE AND FORGIVENESS.
• ILLUSTRATION #1: THE LOST SHEEP
• WHO DOES THE MAN WITH 100 SHEEP REPRESENT?
• THE MAN REPRESENTS JESUS CHRIST.
• HOW DO WE KNOW THAT HE REPRESENTS JESUS CHRIST?
• READ JOH 10:11, 14-15
• WHO DO THE 99 SHEEP REPRESENT?
• THE 99 SHEEP REPRESENT THOSE WHO DO NOT NEED REDEMPTION.
• IN THIS WORLD OF GOD’S CREATION, THE ONLY ONES WHO DO NOT NEED REDEMPTION ARE THE FAITHFUL ANGELS.
• WHO DOES THE ONE LOST SHEEP REPRESENT?
• THE ONE LOST SHEEP REPRESENTS ALL SINFUL HUMAN BEINGS, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE FOOLISH, UNTHINKING SINNER WHO WANDERS AWAY FROM GOD. (OF COURSE, THAT IS ALL OF US.)
• NOTICE THAT THE MAN, JESUS CHRIST, ENDURES PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT TO GO OUT IN SEARCH OF THE LOST SHEEP.
• WHO DO THE REJOICING FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS REPRESENT (6,9)?
• THE REJOICING FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS REPRESENT THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY SAVED AND THE FAITHFUL ANGELS WHO REJOICE WHEN A PERSON COMES TO CHRIST. THE REJOICING IS OVER THE ONE HUMAN WHO BECOMES SAVED RATHER THAN OVER THE FAITHFUL ANGELS WHO DO NOT NEED SALVATION.
• THE REASON FOR THE REJOICING IS BECAUSE OF THE PRICE JESUS PAID ON THE CROSS FOR REDEMPTION, AND THAT HE DID NOT PAY THE PRICE IN VAIN. ONE SHEEP HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT PRICE.
• ILLUSTRATION #2: THE LOST COIN
• WHO DOES THE WOMAN REPRESENT (8)?
• THE WOMAN REPRESENTS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• WHAT DO THE 10 PIECES OF SILVER REPRESENT?
• THE TEN PIECES OF SILVER HAVE THE VALUE OF A QUARTER TODAY.
• THEN, OF WHAT IS THE VALUE? WE MUST LOOK AT SOMETHING IN THE CULTURE OF THAT DAY.
• WOMEN OF THAT TIME OFTEN WORE ON THEIR BROW A FRONTLET THAT WAS CALLED, semedi. IT WAS MADE UP OF COINS, IN THEMSELVES OFTEN VALUELESS. HOWEVER, IT HAD STAMPED ON IT THE IMAGE OF AUTHORITY. THE FRONTLET SIGNIFIED THE SYMBOL OF A BETROTHAL OR A MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP. IT WAS OF PRICELESS VALUE TO THE WOMAN WHO WORE IT.
• WHAT DOES THE ONE LOST COIN REPRESENT?
• THE LOST COIN REPRESENTS ALL SINNERS, SPECIFICALLY THE SINNER WHO IS IGNORANT OF HIS VALUE AND WAS PASSIVE IN THE HANDS INTO WHICH HE FALLS.
• WHAT DOES THE LAMP (CANDLE, LIGHT) REPRESENT (8)?
• THE LAMP REPRESENTS THE HOLY SPIRIT USING THE WORD OF GOD.
• READ PSA 119:105
• READ JOH 16:7-15
• NOTICE THE ACTION OF THE WOMAN (THE HOLY SPIRIT) WHO LIGHTS THE LAMP (THE WORD OF GOD) AND SWEEPS THE HOUSE (THE WORLD) LOOKING IN EVERY CORNER.
• ILLUSTRATION #3: THE LOST SON
• WHO DOES THE FATHER WITH 2 SONS REPRESENT (11)?
• THE FATHER REPRESENTS GOD, THE FATHER.
• WHO DOES THE YOUNGER SON REPRESENT?
• THE YOUNGER SON REPRESENTS THE SINNER WHO DELIBERATELY GOES ASTRAY AND IS PERISHING.
• WHAT DOES THE YOUNGER SON’S INHERITANCE REPRESENT (12)?
• REMEMBER THAT THE JEWISH LAW OF INHERITANCE WAS SUCH THAT IF A MAN HAD TWO SONS, THE OLDEST SON WOULD RECEIVE TWO PORTIONS OF THE ESTATE WHILE THE YOUNGEST SON WOULD RECEIVE ONE PORTION.
• A MAN COULD DISPOSE OF HIS PROPERTY BY GIFT BEFORE HIS DEATH IF HE CHOSE. THE YOUNGER SON WAS ENTITLED BY LAW TO HIS SHARE, THOUGH HE HAD NO RIGHT TO CLAIM IT BEFORE HIS FATHER DIED. HOWEVER, IN THE PARABLE THE FATHER GRANTED THE SON’S EARLY REQUEST.
• WHAT DOES THE FAR COUNTRY REPRESENT?
• THE REJECTION OF HOME SIGNIFIES THE FALL INTO WORLDLY SIN AND THE FORGETFULNESS OF THINGS SPIRITUAL.
• WHO DOES THE “CITIZEN OF THAT COUNTRY” REPRESENT (15)?
• “THE CITIZEN OF THAT COUNTRY” REPRESENTS SATAN.
• READ 2COR 4:3
• THIS SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT SATAN IS THE GOD OF THIS WORLDLY SYSTEM.
• NOTICE THE FATHER’S REACTION:
• HE ALLOWS HIS SON’S EARLY REQUEST EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS THIS SON WILL ABUSE IT.
• THE FATHER GOES MORE THAN HALF WAY TO GREET HIS RETURNING SON
• THERE IS NO RECRIMINATION OR CONDEMNATION OF THE SONS’ PAST ACTIONS.
• WHAT DO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS REPRESENT (22)?
• THE ROBE:
• THE ROBE REPRESENTS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, WHICH THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST PUTS ON WHEN HE IS BORN AGAIN.
• THE BEST ROBE INDICATED THAT THE SON WAS REINSTATED IN HIS ORIGINAL POSITION AS A CHILD OF HIS FATHER.
• THE RING:
• THE RING REPRESENTS THE SYMBOL OF THE UNION OF FATHER AND SON. ALSO IT IS A SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY.
• THE SHOES:
• THE SHOES REPRESENTS THE SON’S POSITION AS A SON AND NOT A SLAVE OR SERVANT. SLAVES AND SERVANTS DID NOT WEAR SHOES.
• THE FEAST:
• THE FEAST REPRESENTS JOYFUL COMMUNION WITH THE FATHER.
• IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS THE LORD’S SUPPER IN HOLY COMMUNION.
• WHO DOES THE ELDER SON REPRESENT (25)?
• THE ELDER SON REPRESENTS THE RELIGIOUS SINNER SUCH AS THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, THE OLDER SON WAS AS MUCH OF A PRODIGAL AS HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.
• VERSE 28 TELLS US THAT THE OLDER BROTHER DID NOT GO INTO THE FEAST. HE WAS CONTENT WITH HIS SELF-SATISFACTION AND HIS RESENTMENT.
• NOTICE THAT THE FATHER CAME OUT TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO REPENT OF HIS ATTITUDE.
• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE?
• THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE HOLY TRINITY GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO SEEK OUT, TO SEARCH FOR, TO CONVICT, AND TO FORGIVE ALL SINNERS WHO ARE LOST AND SEPARATED FROM GOD. THEY USE ALL THE QUALITIES OF LOVE SUCH AS TENDERNESS, ENDURANCE, DILIGENCE, PATIENCE, LONGSUFFERING, AND FORGIVENESS.

HOMEWORK
THE PARABLE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS STEWARD (LUK 16:1-13)
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE LOST POSSESSIONS (LUK 15:1-32)
• MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU KNOW ARE “LOST”.

• PRAY FOR EACH ONE THIS WEEK, THAT THE HOLY TRINITY WILL SEEK THE HEART OF THAT PERSON AND CAUSE HIM TO TURN TO GOD FOR SALVATION.

• PREPARATION FOR THE PARABLE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS STEWARD (LUK 16:1-13)
• READ LUK 16:1-13
• TO WHOM IS THE PARABLE SPOKEN?

• WHO DOES THE RICH MAN REPRESENT? (11)

• WHO DOES THE STEWARD REPRESENT?

• WHAT DO THE “GOODS” THAT WERE WASTED REPRESENT? (1)

• WHAT DID THE STEWARD DO? (5-7)

• IS JESUS PRAISING THE STEWARD FOR HIS DECEITFUL WAYS?

• FOR WHAT DID THE LORD PRAISE THE STEWARD?

• WHO ARE THE SONS OF THIS AGE? (8)

• WHO ARE THE SONS OF LIGHT? (8)

• WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE?

• IN LIGHT OF THE CENTRAL TRUTH, WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAYS WE SHOULD MAKE FRIENDS BY USING THE MONEY OF THIS WORLD? (9)

• WHAT IS THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE IN THIS PARABLE? (10)

• WHAT ARE THE TRUE RICHES MENTIONED IN VERSE 11?

• MEMORY VERSE: LUK 16:10