Luke 15 - The 1-1-2

Introduction

Boxing Introduction, The 1-1-2

In the sport of boxing there are six types of punches and they are numbered as such:

1 - Jab

2 - Cross

3 - Left hook

4 - Right hook

5 -

5 - Left Uppercut

6 - Right Uppercut

6 -

If you are to train to be a boxer or mixed martial arts fighter you will be require to master these six punches. You will not only master these six punches but you will master combos of these as well. For example, you may have heard the expression the “1-2 punch”. That would be a quick jab followed by a cross. One of the most versatile combinations in boxing is the “1-1-2”. It is two jabs followed by a cross. A good boxer will use the two jabs creatively to confuse their opponent then seek to land a stronger more powerful punch in the cross. Tonight’s lesson isn’t about boxing, it is about . But as I was preparing for this lesson I couldn’t help but see similarity between the “1-1-2” combo and our text. I’ve titled this lesson, “The 1-1-2” because you have two quick, similar parables in the lost sheep and the lost coin followed by a different more powerful and familiar parable in the prodigal son. All of these parables have the same goal in mind: to reveal the joy of God in saving sinners.

Setting ()

In the previous chapter you see Jesus at the home of a Pharisee increasing the tension between his crew and the religious elite. Pastor Hartman last weekly titled the message, “Tension at the table” and that is certainly what is happening. Then in chapter 15, you see in customary Lukan fashion, a transition away from the tension created by Jesus’ teaching to the tension created by Jesus’ crowd.

Verse 1:

Tax collectors - These are Jewish folks who collect money for the Roman government who is currently ruling over the Jews. They were commonly viewed poorly by the people because they often collected more tax money from the people than was required and then pocketed the rest.

Sinners - general riff raft. The activities of the prodigal son are those who fit this category.

These folks are drawing near to Jesus.

Chapter 14 concludes with the phrase, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” () then you see cultural undesirables “drawing near” to Jesus.

Verse 2:

Tax collectors/sinners vs Pharisees/scribes:

These two groups, the tax collectors and sinners, are held in contrast with the Pharisees and the scribes. The Pharisees and scribes are considered the religious elite because they put an emphasis on external righteousness rather than righteousness required by God. They would be accused of keeping the “letter of the law” but ignoring the “spirit of the law”. For example, if I make a rule for my kids “Do no punch your brother or sister”. Then, Sage, could come to me at the end of the day and boast about how she did in fact not kick her brother or sister. But if I find that she had kicked her brother in the course of the day has she broken the rule? I would submit to you yes. While it is true that she did not punch her brother she didn’t ask herself, “why is this rule in place?”. In other words, the prohibition of punching siblings is the external rule but the internal rule is loving your brother and sister as yourself.

Receives and eats with them

receives “them”

Jesus doesn’t immediately dismiss these individuals.

eats with “them”

Irony here is that in the previously chapter Jesus dines with the Pharisees and they see no problem with that yet they question the company that Jesus permits to dine with him.

Verse 3:

Who is “them”?

Most likely the Pharisees but could be the tax collectors or sinners. A better question is “who needs to hear these parables?” Well...”them” do.

Parable

It is singular here but yet Jesus seems to tell three different parables here. We should take this as one unit.

Parable of the Lost Sheep ()

Parable of the Lost Coin ()

Parable of the Lost “Prodigal” Son ()

Jab 1.1 - Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-7)

While all three of the parables communicate a consistent message the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin are intended to be the same (Bock, 1298).

Lost Sheep

Verse 4

Opening question prepares the reader for action. Just as the shepherd would pursue the sheep there is something that Jesus desires for us to pursue as well: repentance.

The Shepherd

Our shepherd is one of modest means (Bock, 1300). A large herd would be about 300 sheep so this is considerably less but not insignificant. Also, the shepherd doesn’t appear to have hired hands so he is doing all the shepherding himself.

The Search

I had the pleasure during the summers as a young boy working with my Granddad on the farm. The first thing we did when we arrived in the morning and the last thing we did when we left after a days work was count the cattle. And at times…I remember the numbers not syncing up. When they did not we had to figure out where the missing cattle were. Maybe the pushed through the gate, maybe we miss counted earlier, but maybe one was attacked by a coyote in the night.

Don’t be alarmed about leaving the 99. This would be like leaving your children in front of a screen while you clean the house. You’ll find your child right in front of the screen where you left them once your chores are over.

Once he finds the lost sheep he shows care in slinging it over his shoulder and taking it home. The father knows the sheep is lost…we don’t know that the sheep knows that it is lost.

The Joy of the Shepherd

It is pulic

It is a party

The Joy of Heaven

The action item that Jesus intends for his hearer is repentance. It should be as obvious to the hearer as it is obvious for the shepherd to search for the lost sheep.

Jab 1.2 - Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

Lost Coin

The Woman

Of modest means. A silver coin or dracma was about days wage so losing it would warrant a search to retrieve.

The Search

We see more detail about the woman’s search to illustrate

The Joy of the Woman

The Joy of Heaven

Why does Jesus associate with sinner? Because near to the heart of God is the salvation of sinners. But sinners cannot be saved unless they recognize they need saving. Repentance and faith must occur and when they do there is a celebration in heaven and should also be on earth.

Evangelism

For disciples of Christ, our heart for the lost and pursuit should be the same of Jesus.

Cross 2 - Parable of the Lost Son ()

Lost Son

“Prodigal”

Definition: 1. spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

2. having or giving something on a lavish scale

noun: a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way

Lost Son vs Prodigal Son

Focus on what the son is rather than what the son does.

Outline

Setting ()

Simply stated. I read this with a pause before verse 12.

Compared to the lost sheep and lost coin the hearer should be thinking?

Who or what will be lost/found?

With two sons identified the focus will be on the Father.

Younger Son

Request (v12)

Not a request. It is an imperative.

Which indicates the heart of the younger son and the direction he is headed with the inheritance.

"property”

The son asks for the weath/property

The father gives his life (tov biov)

bios - life

- a double portion to the first born.

Estate would have been divided into thirds.

Double portion to the older (2/3)

Single portion to the younger (1/3)

Rebellion (v13-16)

“gathered” - converted to cash

Quick to leave the Father’s presence

wastes on “reckless living”

If you give sin an inch, it will take you a mile.

Sin over promises and under delivers.

Illustration of the parable has to do with value. What the younger wasted it on things of no value.

Father

No desire to share his wealth. It was spent on self.

Glimpse of the Shepherd/Woman’s Celebration

Famine is not his fault.

We should have compassion on others. The good and the bad decision makers all suffer in a famine.

Reaches rock bottom

Becomes a hired hand to pig farmers.

Being a Jew, this is lowest of the low. Pigs are unclean and to be the caretaker of pigs would be an all time low.

This doesn’t meet his needs, food/shelter, and NO ONE helps him. His job doesn’t meet his basic needs.

Repentance (v17-21)

“he came to himself” - he came to his senses

I’ll be better as a servant with my father than my current situation.

Rehersal

Father I have sinned against heaven and before you.

English Standard Version Psalm 51

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

English Standard Version Psalm 51

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

I am no longer worth to be call your son.

No only does he recognize his situation he doesn’t seek more than to be a servant.

Willing to become the lowest of the low…in his father’s house. (Bock, 1313)

Treat me as one of your hired servants.

Performance

Unexpected happens…his father comes to meet him.

Repeats his rehearsal but notice what is omitted.

Treat me as one of your hired servants.

He accepts his Father’s wishes

- There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

He accepts his father’s treatment of him. If we’re being honest this would be very hard for one to do.

Older Son

Characteristics

Disciplined with a sense of Duty

“In the field” - working, wholesome work.

Father

Morally Righteous

Keeps a record of himself

“many years I have served you”

“I have never disobeyed your command”

lies

Keeps a record of others

he knows his brothers sins - prostitutes

He feels his righteousness is deserving

Famine in the Family

As the younger son can’t help the famine, the older son can’t help how the father treats his brother. This act destroys his worldview and leaves him angry and bitter.

We don’t see his response to his father.

He is more deserving/more

Father (v21-32)

He gives the son his request.

Why? Honestly…we do not know. This can be true of our own lives as well.

Inheritance is typically something done after one dies.

Word play here is interesting…when the father gives his “property” it is (tov biov) or his life. The same word we get “biology” from.

Rehersal

The father clearly has a plan for the return of his son. We don’t see the rehearsal but the Father has a plan for when he returns.

Performance

To the Younger Son

Compassion

He runs: not typical in that culture.

This is the twist in the story (Bock (quoting someone else), 1315)

Restores his Son

Cuts him off

His youngest son rehearsed a plan…but the Father had a better one.

Son is served rather than being a servant

Robe/Ring/Sandles

All outward signs of restoration

Ring

Celebration

Calf

Provides Theological Clarity

Dead…alive

Lost…found

Celebration

Prodigal God

In October of 2008, Timothy Keller released a book titled “The Prodigal God”. It illustrates for us that the Father is very reckless/extravagant with his grace.

To the Older Son

Older Son

He goes to him

Once he recognizes his son’s refusal to attend the party to goes to urge him to come in.

Irony the brother on the inside is now on the outside. (Bock, 1317)

Reherasal

The father is ready with a response though we don’t see him rehearse it.

Response

“Son” - a tender response to a harsh statement from a hurt boy.

Reminds the son that he is always with the Father and that all of mine is his. Meaning…the return of the younger son does not hurt him financially in terms of the inheritance.

Son’s “never” to the Father’s “always”/”all”

It is “right” to party

Older son’s “son of yours” compared to the Father’s “this brother of yours”.

Provides Theological Clarity

Tells the older the same truth as the younger, he was dead and now alive. Lost and now found.

It is right to love what the father loves.

The older brother remains in sin until he aligns with the Father’s wishes, which we do not know whether he obeys or not.

Concluding Thoughts

To All People

Obligation of the hearers

Repent!

Repentance is orderly. Sin is disorderly.

God transforms you not the other way around.

The most vile sinner and the morally self-righteous have their lives turned upside down by God.

No one is to far gone for us.

Good news for us this day and age.

Keep praying.

Rehearse repentance.

Be ready with a response or rebuke to uphold the truth of God’s word.

Joy of the Father

  Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

12  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

because he poured out his soul to death

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Joy of the Son

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.