The Eating Parables

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Jesus is speaking to a mixed audience of PHARISEES and SINNERS.

Jesus is responding to the Pharisees’ COMPLAINTS.

The Pharisees are BITTER about Jesus’ habit of eating with SINNERS.

Jesus’ dinner company matters because the FEAST of the Messiah is an image of the KINGDOM of God.

The Parables

The sinners are the LOST ones who have STRAYED from God’s will and commands.

Luke 15:4 NIV

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Luke 15:8 NIV

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15:11–13 NIV

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

The Pharisees are the RIGHTEOUS ones who have NOT STRAYED from God’s will and commands.

Luke 15:7 NIV

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:29 NIV

But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

Jesus is the one who SEEKS the lost, and CELEBRATES when they are found.

Luke 15:6 NIV

and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

Luke 15:9 NIV

And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

Luke 15:20–24 NIV

So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Jesus was INVITING the Pharisees to join in the CELEBRATION at the return of the lost.

Luke 15:31–32 NIV

“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Eating with Jesus Today

The Feast of the Messiah is a celebration of RECONCILIATION, not VINDICATION.

Sinners miss out miss out when they refuse to be RECONCILED to GOD. Pharisees miss out when they refuse to be RECONCILED to OTHERS.

Following Jesus isn’t about just “NOT SINNING.” It’s about sharing Jesus’ mission and VALUES.