Instruction Concerning Discipleship - Luke 14.25-35

 

Great multitudes are following Jesus. He turns and tells them, “If any man come unto me, and hates not his own father, and mother, and wife, children and brethren, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Now, the rabbis even today say that Judaism teaches to love family and Christianity teaches to hate family. They know better, but will try to disparage Jews from following Yeshua. In the Hebrew culture to hate something is to not choose it, and to love something is to choose it. Jesus was saying we need to count the cost of following and choose His way even over following what our family wants us to do. ( I love that pair of shoes, but hate the other choices.)

 

We choose God, just as Abraham chose God and not his own family. Three lessons here:

1. Be willing to leave all.

2. Be willing to bear the cross and identify with His rejection.

3. How much of our resources are we willing to commit to God and to becoming a disciple--God demands all. Becoming a disciple means to think things over and commit totally to God’s way. Salvation only requires belief.

 

 Instruction Concerning God’s Attitude Toward Sinners - Luke 15.1-32

 

Now all publicans and sinners were drawing near to Jesus to hear Him. The Pharisees and scribes murmured about this. They had strict rules not to socialize with sinners. They taught to rejoice when a sinner is punished by God. Jesus knows this and tells three parables. The first is about the lost sheep. Sheep have a tendency to stray, but when the sheep is found the shepherd rejoices. This focuses on the work of God the Son.

 

The second parable is over the lost coin. Here the focus is on the searching. The coin is in the house but not immediately found. This focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit. When the coin is found there is rejoicing. This idea contradicts the Pharisaic mindset that sinners should be punished no matter what the case.

 

The third story is about the lost son (Prodigal Son). Here the emphasis is on restoration which is the work of God the Father. The Prodigal blows his inheritance that he receives while his brother stays home and works for the father. The Prodigal realizes he has lost his inheritance and decides to return home in a repentant manner and ask if he can be a servant to his father. The father watches for his son, and when the son is returning, the father sees him coming. He runs to his son and greets him warmly. The father gives him the best robe (sign of birthright), ring (authority in the household), and sandals (a sign of his sonship). There is great rejoicing in the household because the lost son has returned. The eldest son is upset because he has never gotten this treatment. The lesson is that rewards are not given mainly on merit, the way the Pharisees taught, but on mercy. The one that stayed never has had to be restored.

 

These three parables show the difference between the Pharisee’s self-righteous attitude towards sinners and God’s mercy toward repentant sinners. God does not rejoice over the death of a sinner, but towards those who return to Him. The Pharisees had forgotten what the Torah teaches about forgiveness.

 

Instruction Concerning Wealth - Luke 16.1-17.10

 

Jesus now teaches His disciples about stewardship and wealth in three parables. The background for these parables is a saying of the Pharisee’s: “Whom so ever the Lord loves, He makes rich!” Wealth in their view was a sign of divine favor. The church has fallen into the same trap with the health and wealth message.

 

 

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum