Sin and Shame Taken Away, Luke 15:11-32

When the younger son returns from his shameful life and the older son refuses to come to the party for his brother, the father chooses not to reject his sons, but instead bears their shameful actions upon himself so that they can be reconciled to him. The father in this parable is a picture of what Jesus does for us through the cross in his bearing of our sin to restore us to God the Father.

Image: Pompeo Batoni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompeo_Batoni_003.jpg

The Answering Honor of God, Luke 11:1-13

When we hear about the Friend at Midnight, we probably think of the fellow who bangs on the door of his neighbor’s house until he finally gets up and gives him some bread. What if that wasn’t quite the proper understanding of this important parable? What if the parable was about the fellow who gets awakened giving the bread because he doesn’t want to bring shame on himself and his village by not acting according to the laws of hospitality? Father Jeremiah explores this in this sermon on Luke 11.

Image: Importunate Neighbor, William Holman Hunt, public domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Importunate_neighbour.jpg

Re-understanding the Prodigal, Luke 15:11-32

So often when we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son, we think that it is all about the two sons. However, in the broader context of Luke 15, Jesus is driving home why we should celebrate when repentant sinners come home and it isn’t because they come home! The celebration is for the one who receives them, our gracious Father in heaven who has made a way for us to come to him!

Image: The Return of the Prodigal Son, from The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, license: CCO 1.0 Dedication. Location: https://nypl.getarchive.net/media/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-213284

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/27/re-understanding-the-prodigal-luke-1511-32