Comments on: The Prodigal God: The Two Lost Sons http://nccftoday.com/2009/12/the-prodigal-god-the-two-lost-sons/ Taking Good News to our neighborhood, Nevada County and the nations Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:05:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pat http://nccftoday.com/2009/12/the-prodigal-god-the-two-lost-sons/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Pat Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:36:39 +0000 http://nccftoday.com/?p=874#comment-69 In this parable we see the Pharisees grumbling. Luke 15:1 (ESV)   Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” I thought that it was interesting that in our = Tuesday nights study in Philippians that this grumbling attitude was addressed again. Phil 2:14 (ESV)   Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, This verse in Philippians is from Deut. 32:5. Deut 32:5 (ESV) They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. This grumbling attitude kept the majority of Israel from entering the promised land just as it will keep the Pharisees in this parable from entering into the kingdom. Matt 21:31b (ESV) .... Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. Maybe this parable is left open ended to challenge each person who reads it to check their hearts to see if they have a "grumbling" attitude or have the attitude that they want to go into the party/celebration (i.e. the kingdom) and join other "miserable sinners" like themselves. In this parable we see the Pharisees grumbling.

Luke 15:1 (ESV)
  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

I thought that it was interesting that in our = Tuesday nights study in Philippians that this grumbling attitude was addressed again.

Phil 2:14 (ESV)
  Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

This verse in Philippians is from Deut. 32:5.

Deut 32:5 (ESV)
They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.

This grumbling attitude kept the majority of Israel from entering the promised land just as it will keep the Pharisees in this parable from entering into the kingdom.

Matt 21:31b (ESV)
…. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.

Maybe this parable is left open ended to challenge each person who reads it to check their hearts to see if they have a “grumbling” attitude or have the attitude that they want to go into the party/celebration (i.e. the kingdom) and join other “miserable sinners” like themselves.

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