WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday June 5, 2016

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THE DAY OF THE LORD

(Seek righteousness while you still can)

(Zephaniah 1-2:3)

   The name “Zephaniah” is shared by four men in the Old Testament; the son of Maaseiah (2 Kings 25:18, Jeremiah 21:1, 29:25 & 29, and 37:3), a Levite of the family of Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:36), the father of Josiah (not king Josiah - Zechariah 6:10), and, the man who is the subject of our lesson this week, the prophet and author of this book, Zephaniah. The name “Zephaniah” has, over time, come to have two meanings “YAHWEH has hidden”, and, “YAHWEH treasured”.

    As one of GOD’s spokesman for Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, Zephaniah began his ministry circa 627 B.C., which is approximately the same time as the great prophet Jeremiah. He was a member of the royal house of Judah, and traced his ancestry back to King Hezekiah. He, like Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Micah, prophesied during the reign of King Josiah (641-609 B.C.). The fact that so many powerful prophets ministered during Josiah’s reign suggests to us the significance of this time-period.

    During this time, the nation was enjoying a brief period of relief from foreign intervention, as Syria’s power had diminished quite a bit. This gave the Israelites a chance to focus on internal affairs, and young King Josiah chose to concentrate on the moral and spiritual reforms of his people. However, the moral and spiritual decay of the people of Israel ran very deep, and not even the good and righteous intentions of Judah’s last GODly king would be able to save Jerusalem from destruction. And so, while Josiah, the son of Amon, was still king of Judah, the lord gave the messages compiled in this book to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the great, great grandson of Hezekiah.

    Zephaniah came along following a gap of silence from the LORD, after the fade of the ministries of Isaiah, Micah, Amos, and Hosea at the end of the eighth century B.C., and to those faithful who were beginning to think that the whole prophetic movement was over, Zephaniah’s appearance on the scene at the end of the seventh century was a welcome relief.

    However, little did the people of Israel know that Zephaniah’s coming would trigger the beginning of a final wave of Hebrew prophecy that would also include Jeremiah, Obadiah, Nahum. It would be Israel’s final chance to repent and return to GOD before HE unleashed the power of Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar on not just Israel, but upon the whole world as they knew it at that time (Zephaniah 2:1-3).

    In Zephaniah 1, taking up at verse 2, the prophet Zephaniah unleashes a terrible warning of destruction from the LORD. There he tells the people that GOD will sweep away everything in the land of Israel, both people, and animals, birds and fish (in other words, anything that can embody a demon for the purpose of receiving worship through them). Every trace of Baal worship would be eradicated from the land of Israel. Even the priests who worshiped idols in secret, idols such as Osiris (the sun, moon, and stars – today in Freemasonry), and Molech (today in Hip Hop, to whom they sacrificed their children), GOD says, HE will destroy. The LORD also says that HE will even destroy the “backsliders”, those who formerly worshiped HIM, but now seek after other sources of worship (Vs.2-7).

    The “professed Christian Church” (those churches that give the world a bad impression of GOD, and help destroy, the image of JESUS CHRIST), has been prepared by GOD for a great slaughter, and HE has already chosen the elements which HE will use for its demise (v.7). On that day of the LORD’s judgment, HE will punish the leaders of the professed Church, and all those who chose to mix the holy with the profane by endorsing and following pagan behavior in the Church (v.8). HE will punish all those who participate in such worship services, and those who spiritually kill and steal to fill their pastor’s bank account with money (v.9).

    Everyone who sits content in their sinful practices will be searched out by the LORD in HIS coming Day of Judgment, and everything satan has given them, homes, cars, money, food, and drink, etc, will be taken away from them (Vs.12-13).

    In verses 14-18, Zephaniah gives the people a vivid description of what the coming “Day of the LORD” will be like. It will be a day when the LORD’s anger will be poured out;

·         It will be a day when men who have a reputation of being tough and strong, will wither and weep bitterly.

·         It will be a day of terrible distress and anguish.

·         It will be a day of ruin and desolation.

·         It will be a day of darkness and gloom, of clouds and blackness, trumpet calls and battle cries.

·         Strong nations will fall because of their sins, and be made as helpless as a blind man searching to find his way.

·         Blood will be poured out into the dust and bodies will lay rotting on the ground.

·         Money, silver and gold will be of no value.

·         The whole earth will be affected and GOD will make a terrifying end of all the unrepentant people of the earth.

    No doubt Zephaniah sounds here like a religious psychopath, even though he ministered at a time when religion was corrupt, the government had failed, and apathy and indifference ruled the day (umm, sounds like today). However history now tells us just how correct he was in his prophecy, as in 605 B.C. the destruction of Judah by the Babylonians had already begun. In fact, his prophecies were fulfilled quicker than any other messenger of GOD before him.

    When we search out and study the details of these prophecies for actual clues as to the state of humanity at the end of this age, we can see quite clearly that Zephaniah’s messages captures the character of both GOD and man, and what he envisioned can still be seen in the world in this day.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday May 29, 2016

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JOYOUS FAITH

(JESUS came to seek and save those who are lost)

(Luke 19:1-10)

   The office of “Chief Jewish Tax Collector” was one that was won by the highest bidder for the job. The cost incurred by the winning bidder was then made up by charging the Jews excessive rates, even on those who were poor. The person who held that position usually became the most hated person in any Jewish community.

    In Luke 19, taking up at verse 1, Luke chronicles the “Jericho stop” on JESUS’ final missionary circuit in route to Jerusalem, and HIS appointment with death on a cross at Golgotha (Cavalry Hill). As HE made HIS way through the town, HE encounters just such a hated Tax Collector, by the name of Zacchaeus.

    Zacchaeus was one of the richest and most influential Jews in the tax collectors business. He had come there to get a glimpse of the man, JESUS, WHOM he had heard so much about. Being a man short in physical stature, Zacchaeus was not able to see over the pressing crowd, and so he ran ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree beside the road to get a better look at the, now famous, healer, exorcist, and preacher and teacher of the Gospel, from Nazareth.

    Here we see unfolding, a wonderful lesson on how to reach people with the Gospel while they are in their own comfortable setting, as opposed to always seeking to reach them in a church setting, where it is considerably more difficult to get them to accept an invitation. When we really think about it, most of a Christian’s successes at converting people from the world, come while we are in settings that are familiar and comfortable to those whom we are trying to convert to CHRIST.

    In verse 5, as JESUS reached the spot of the sycamore that was now occupied by Zacchaeus, HE looked up and called on the curious tax collector to come down and get to know HIM over dinner at his home that same day. And even though Zacchaeus was excited at JESUS’ request, the crowd of people who were gathered around were stunned and displeased at JESUS’ proposal to eat with their most hated enemy, a sinful, cheating, notorious tax collector. They felt that, to “break bread” with a person was a significant sign and expression of fellowship and acceptance between the guest and the host, and many still feel that way today.

    However, hate will always hinder a person from receiving what GOD has to offer us. When we harbor hatred for one another, it makes it impossible to do the work that CHRIST calls us to do. In fact, in such cases, just as the “unsaved” person who needs to be converted is blocked from CHRIST, so too, is the person who hates his fellowman, and yet, somehow, thinks that they themselves are “saved”. Whenever we seek to block someone we don’t like from GOD, it is usually a sign that we ourselves are not saved.

    On the other hand, one of the great indicators that a person is saved, is that, he or she not only does that which is required by the law of GOD, but rather, they are willing to go beyond that and into the territory of “sacrificial offerings”. In verse 8, we see just such a sign from the repentant tax collector, Zacchaeus. There he stands before the our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, and tells HIM, “I will give half my wealth to poor, LORD, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

     In Leviticus 5:16, the payment for such an offense of thievery that was committed by Zacchaeus, is restitution, plus, 20%. However, here Zacchaeus is willing to go way beyond the limits proposed by the Law of Moses. Here his genuinely repentant heart dictates to him that he gladly and sacrificially give back “four times more” than is required by the law.

    And so here we see a lesson learned about how we are to seek and save not only our relatives and friends, but also strangers and those who may have an unsavory reputation in our communities. Here JESUS is able to save the most hated sinner in town from eternal damnation, and in verses 9-10 HE expresses HIS joy to do so, to the people of Jericho when HE proclaims, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the SON of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost”.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday May 22, 2016

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CHILDLIKE FAITH

(JESUS blesses the children)

(Mark 10: 13-16)

   The healthy attitude of a child toward his or her parents should be one of trust and dependence upon them for their daily needs, their needs for, at least, the near future, their protection from hurt and harm, and, their teaching and training in those things that are right and pleasing to GOD. JESUS says that it is that same trust and attitude of faith that any responsible adult must have toward GOD, if, they are to be able to make their way into the Kingdom of Heaven.  For Scripture says that, “without faith, it is impossible to please GOD”, and that, “GOD will keep in perfect peace the mind that stays on HIM, because it trusts in HIM”, and that holds true, even while one still exists in this life, here on earth.

    In Mark chapter 10, verses 13-16, sandwiched between JESUS’ teachings on divorce and marriage, and HIS encounter with the rich young ruler, we find the account of when several parents were bringing their children (paidia) to JESUS so that HE could lay hands on them and bless them.

    JESUS, not being one who endorses a “boy’s club mentality” was indignant when HIS disciples, who were obviously feeling that children weren’t important enough to merit personal attention from HIM, tried to impede, or block the little ones from receiving their blessings from the LORD. We can also recall on another occasion (Luke 9:49-50) when these same disciples wanted to stop others, who weren’t in their “imagined clique” (boy’s club), from casting out demons in the name of JESUS. There JESUS reminded them that anyone who is not against you is for you.

     In other words, JESUS was trying to communicate that Christianity is not meant to be “exclusive”, but rather, it must be “all inclusive”, and anyone who chooses, of his or her own free will, to leave behind, the temporal things and attitude of this world, and partake in the eternal things of GOD, are indeed welcome to enter into the true family of CHRIST JESUS.

    In verse 14b JESUS tells HIS mistaken band of men to “allow the children to come to ME. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of GOD.” Here JESUS is saying that, if a person does not divest themselves of “the pride of life” that has so separated them from GOD, and repent, and humble themselves back to the state of what a child exists in, which is one of total dependence and trust (come to the end of “self” where JESUS is waiting), one can’t possibly enter into the greater life, which is in Heaven, where GOD can take us into HIS arms and bless us, just as JESUS does with the children in this passage (v.16), forevermore.  

    It is the humble ones who are in position to be received by GOD into Heaven. It is foolish to place our emphasis on people who seem to be most important, and are well received by the world that they try so hard to be like and impress, and then totally ignore the “little ones” (those who are meek and humble) who are important to GOD, and take pride only in their dependence on, and faith in, GOD.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday May 15, 2016

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HUMBLE FAITH

(Prideful prayers are not honored by GOD)

(Luke 18:9-14)

   Prayer time should be a time when we set our lives beside the life of JESUS CHRIST, and be humbled, and not beside the life of other people, where we think we can be exalted. No one who rates his or her life above the life of others can utter a prayer that is honored by GOD. Unless we pray in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, we put ourselves in danger of lifting ourselves above our fellowman. The gates of Heaven are low, and the only way to enter through them is on our knees, both physically and spiritually.

    In Luke chapter 18, taking up at verse 9, JESUS shares the story of two men who simultaneously went into the Temple to pray one day. The Scriptures says that JESUS was telling this story to an audience who had great self-confidence in their petitions before GOD, and that, normally they would scorn those whom they thought were religiously inferior to themselves. In other words they were proud, eloquent, and arrogant.

    Now, one of the men was a Pharisee, and the other was a hated, dishonest tax collector whom few people liked or respected. In the first century devout Jews observed three prayer times each day (9 am, 12 noon, and 3 pm), and they felt that their prayers would be especially effective if they prayed them in the Temple.

    The Pharisee, was a man who took great pride in his ability to pray long, eloquent prayers, and was actually, whether wittingly or unwittingly, giving himself a great testimonial before GOD. In this passage JESUS says that this man stood by himself and prayed this particular prayer; “I thank YOU, GOD, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give YOU a tenth of my income”.

    In those days, not only did devout Pharisees fast twice a week, they made sure that the “little people” in town saw them doing it. They did this by putting on their most used-looking, tattered robes, that they saved for occasions of fasting, and they would go down to the marketplace on its busiest days (Mondays and Thursdays) so that as many people could see them as possible. They were also careful to tithe of the money that they would regularly steal from the poor, the orphans, and widows in the church.

    Contrastingly, standing at a distance from this prideful Pharisee was the ostracized tax collector, who dared not even so much as, lift his eyes up to Heaven before GOD, but rather, JESUS says that this humble man “beat his chest in sorrow”, saying, “O GOD, be merciful to me , for I am a sinner”.  This was the right reaction for a person who chooses to set themselves before GOD in order to petition for HIS mercy and help.

    When we set ourselves beside, what we consider to be, “the worst of society”, odds are, we stand to look pretty good, especially to ourselves. However, when we set ourselves beside the life of CHRIST JESUS, as we must do when we are in prayer (if we want GOD’s attention), we all can see quite clearly that we fall short of the glory of GOD. We can then put ourselves in the proper position of humbleness that is needed to receive mercy and forgiveness from the only SOURCE that can provide it, which is GOD.

    And so, in the end we see that it was the sinful tax collector, one of the most hated men in Israel, who returned home from that prayer session that day, being justified by GOD. And, as for the pride-laden Pharisee, he returned home unchanged, still too proud to request any special favors from GOD. He would, instead, have to continue to pray, useless, eloquent, arrogant prayers to himself, and, to men who enjoyed listening, but could not in any way help him with his issues. And to end this passage JESUS assures us that, when dealing with GOD, “…the proud (the Pharisee) will be humbled, but the humble (the tax collector) will be honored”.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday May 8, 2016

Over 103,000 readers worldwide

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GRATEFUL FAITH

(The rarity of man’s gratitude toward GOD)

(Luke 17:11-19)

   In Luke 17, verses 11-19, as JESUS and HIS faithful disciples move on toward HIS final visit to Jerusalem, and HIS appointment with death on the cross at Golgotha, somewhere near the border where Samaria meets Galilee, they meet up with a group of ten men that had all fallen prey to the dreaded disease called “leprosy”.

    As they entered into this certain village, the ten men, who were standing at a distance, shouted out to JESUS, saying, “JESUS, MASTER, have mercy on us!” JESUS then turned and looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests” (go to church). As the ten men walked along going to show themselves to the priests, the leprosy that had overtaken their bodies suddenly began to disappear from them until it was completely gone.

    Of the ten men that had cried out to JESUS for help that day, at least one was a Samaritan, and ironically, it was only he, who saw fit to return and thank the LORD for what HE had done for him. It was the Jews who always felt special and privileged about being “GOD’s chosen people” here on earth, however, sadly, few of them ever grasped the duty of responsibility that came with the assignment of being a light to the world, and showing the world, through their behavior, that Christianity really does produce the best men and women.

     “Responsibility” will always be the obverse of “privilege”, and we won’t ever be able to have one without the other. When we enjoy the privilege of being GOD’s children we must remember that we have a responsibility that begins with being “thankful” and “obedient” to GOD for the blessings that HE bestows upon our undeserving lives every day.

     GOD blesses us, with and through, provisions for our daily needs, despite our disobediences and sin against HIM (GOD the FATHER), and furthermore, HE forgives us for past, present, and future disobediences and sins, through the sacrificial blood of HIS only SON, JESUS CHRIST (GOD the SON), and finally, HE leads and guides us into a future of obedience to HIM through the power of HIS SPIRIT (GOD the HOLY SPIRIT).

    The Samaritan man who returned, showed through his actions, that he was more so, “a child of GOD” than those of the “chosen nation” of Israel. He came back to thank JESUS for what he had done for him, and he fell prostrate to the ground at JESUS’ feet, and he praised GOD for his healing.

    JESUS then inquired of the righteous man, saying, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Does only this Samaritan return to give glory to GOD?” These were all questions that the Samaritan man couldn’t answer of course, but JESUS, WHO knew the wickedness and lack of faith in the hearts of most men, even the Jews, said to the grateful man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well”.

    JESUS healed, not only the Samaritan man who returned to thank HIM, but HE also healed the less deserving Jewish men who didn’t. However, none of us really ever deserve the goodness and mercy of GOD, no matter how good we think we are. We as Christians must all strive to stay focused on the greatest and only perfect “human example” that ever lived in this world, JESUS CHRIST, WHO can deliver all those who desire to “overcome” our carnal state of existence, and claim our place in the Kingdom of Heaven, that JESUS says, has been prepared for us, since the very foundation, of this world.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday May 1, 2016

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INCREASED FAITH

(Teaching about forgiveness and faith)

(Luke 17:1-10)

   In this world there will always be temptations to sin. Also, in this world, GOD will not hold blameless, any person who causes another person to stray. In the Greek, the word Luke uses for the phrase “temptations to sin” in verse 1 is “skandalon”, and it is from that word that we derive our English word “scandal”. Originally it meant “the bait in the trap”. However, over time it has come to mean “a stumbling block that is placed in a person’s way in order to trip them up”. Here in the opening lines of Luke 17, JESUS warns of how terrible a judgment it will be for anyone who intentionally tempts or teaches another Christian to sin, or leads that person away from the path of innocence, such as in the cases of misleading children (Vs.1-2).

    Then, just as suddenly as HE introduced the subject of “temptation”, and the terrible judgment that awaits the professed Christian who does the tempting in verses 1-3, in verse 4 JESUS turns and instructs the Christian victim of the tempting, of the need for them to “rebuke their offender” and, “if”, they come to them and repent from their wrongdoing, and request to be forgiven, they should be forgiven by those who were wronged. And even if they should offend you seven times a day, and then repent, then, seven times a day, as a Christian, you are obligated to “forgive” them.

    In this passage JESUS seems to shed a new light on the Christian practice of “turning the other cheek”, as here HE tells us to, first, “confront the sinner” for their wrong-doing, or offense against you, and then “if they repent” they should be forgiven. Here JESUS points out, from a new perspective, that, our forgiveness should not be of a “passive” nature. Our “willingness to forgive” must be just as sincere as the wrong-doer’s “repent and request to be forgiven”. In other words, if reconciliation is to be achieved, forgiveness has to be received, as well as extended.

    If a person is not willing to acknowledge guilt, that person cannot spiritually receive forgiveness from you. And even though we as Christians must always be ready and willing to forgive, JESUS says, we cannot truly say that we have forgiven a person in our heart until we have, first, confronted and rebuked the offender, and the offenders themselves have repented with GODly sorrow (Vs.3-4).

    Taking up at verse 5, the focus of JESUS’ teaching moves from “forgiveness” to “faith”, as one day the apostles asked HIM how they could obtain more “faith”. After hearing what JESUS had to say on “temptation” and “forgiveness” they began to realize how difficult it can be to accept the responsibility of “rebuking a person to induce repentance”, and then, “extending to them, sincere forgiveness”. They surmised that it would take a great deal of faith in order to reach that level of spirituality, or, “spiritual maturity”.

    However, in verse 6 JESUS surprisingly points out that it only takes “mustard seed sized faith” to say to a mulberry tree, “May GOD uproot you and throw you into the sea, and it would obey you!”. Here JESUS seems to be saying that, it is not so much about faith, as it is about having “self control” over the “gifts” and “faculties” that GOD gives us to ensure that we are able to overcome the various temptations that we may face in life, and still remain obedient to HIM, through it all. And, we must forgive others when they fail, just as GOD forgives us when we fail. The attitude of GOD is one of, both, “self control” (discipline), and, “longsuffering” (patient endurance).

    In verses 7-10 JESUS drives home HIS point with the telling of the story of a typical day in the life of any servant. HE says that when a servant comes home from attending his superior’s sheep, he doesn’t sit down and eat, but rather, he begins the task of preparing his superior’s meal first, and then, serves him. Afterwards, he may not even be thanked for his efforts because, it is understood that he is simply doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when we obey JESUS we should say, “We are not worthy of praise, but rather, we are servants who have simply done what we are supposed to do for our LORD and SAVIOR.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander  

          

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WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday April 24, 2016

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A FAMILY REUNION

(GOD gives us unmerited grace)

(Luke 15:11-32)

   One of the main reasons GOD give human beings grace is to teach us how to be gracious to others. We fail GOD when we allow HIS grace towards us to be taken for granted by us, or go unnoticed by us, and, as a result, give satan an opportunity to influence us instead with pride, envy, greed, and narcissism, as he did to the older son in Luke’s now famous account of JESUS’ parable of  “the prodigal son”, that is found only in his Gospel account.

    In Luke chapter 15, verses 11-32, JESUS uses the story of a man who had two sons, to illustrate HIS point further concerning the importance of retrieving those who are “lost”. The father in the parable of this biblical family represents “the attitude of GOD towards those who have wandered away from HIM” and are now “lost” or “dead” in the spiritual sense (separated from HIM).

    The younger son represents those in the world who are lost because they dared to leave the “protective umbrella of GOD” and arrogantly take their lives into their own hands, because their “pride” (which is satan), tells them that they can do better on their own. Little do they know that, whenever you remove yourself from underneath the umbrella of GOD, you inevitably will be “rained on” by satan.

    The older son in this parable, even though he believed that he was totally loyal to his father, is used to show us how we can start out serving GOD and, over time, “our motives for service” can turn to selfish ones, and here we can see in him, several evil elements, pride, envy, greed, and narcissism, that have taken him over during his years of service. He can be likened to the Pharisees in this passage.

    The story begins one day when the younger son, arrogantly assuming that he even had an inheritance, requested to his father that he might receive his right now, rather than wait until his father died, also arrogantly assuming, of course, that his father would pass away before he did. The good father in this parable, who had already prepared a place for his children in the future, agreed to prematurely advance to the younger son, his planned allocated share of his wealth (Vs.11-12).

    Now feeling certain that he could make it on his own without his father (and his rules), a few days later he packed his bags and ventured off to experience the world around him that he thought would give him all the freedom he wanted to do as he pleased. However, true followers of CHRIST know that true freedom can only be found in HIM. The younger son had mistakenly envied the wrong people in life, and so soon he would soon discover that the object of his desires would profoundly humble him back into his senses.

    And so he moved to the land of the unbelieving Gentiles – “foreigners” not in race, but rather, in their unGODly lifestyles). There he would squander all of his wealth on lascivious living, and as soon as he was broke, as the lessons of life would have it, along came a famine, which swept over the entire land (Vs.13-14).

    Now suffering from great hunger, and still having too much pride to return to his father’s house, the young man was able to persuade one of the local Gentile farmers to hire him to feed his swine, which was something that was absolutely detestable for a Jewish person to do, because they, through their upbringing, would normally not be seen anywhere near a pig, let along working with them. And not only did he work tending to, and feeding the swine, but, over time, as his hunger began to overcome him, he even began to desire the food (carob pods) that he was feeding to the pigs (Vs.15-16).

   When his living conditions finally began to humble him, he thought to himself how even his father’s servants had plenty to eat, and in fact, had food enough to spare, and here he was, so hungry, that the pig’s pods were starting to look good to him. And so he decided to go back home to his father’s house, and ask for forgiveness. All the way home he rehearsed the words which he would say to his father saying, “Father, I have sinned against both you and Heaven, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son, please take me back into your house, even if just as a hired servant” (Vs.17-19).

    As he neared his father’s house, and while still a ways off, his father, who had been anxiously anticipating his son’s return one day, saw him coming and was filled with joy. He ran to meet his son and embraced him, and kissed him. His son then told his father the words that he had rehearsed over and over on the way home. To his surprise his father greeted him with love and compassion and ordered his servants to tend to his needs and set up a feast to celebrate his return (Vs.20-24).

    Here we see a vivid picture of GOD’s attitude toward those who wish to repent and return to him. HE justifies us through the blood of CHRIST, HIS sacrificed SON, and HE begins to treat us as if we never sinned at all. The FATHER celebrates the return to life of any of HIS children who were “dead” (separated from HIM) by their quest for the people and things of this world.

    The older son, who had been working in the fields, returned home to the sound of loud music and celebration for his long lost brother’s return. He became very angry at his father for accepting his younger brother back into the family, and was very jealous and envious about him being given a party after he abandoned the family to seek after the pleasures of the world. In fact, he was so angry that he wouldn’t even go into the house (Vs.25-27).

    When his father came out of the house to plead with him to come in and help celebrate his brother’s return, he rebuked his father saying, “All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to do. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours (here he disowns his younger brother) comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have” (Vs.29-30 – NLT)).

    Here we see the evil elements of pride (he still felt that his father owed him something for his service), envy (toward his brother), greed (because he too had received his inheritance), selfishness, and even narcissism ( he thought too highly of himself) all come pouring out of the heart  of the older son. Many people feel the same way about GOD, as this young man felt about his father, they think that through their “good works” they put GOD into their debt.

    The wise and understanding father replied to his older son, “Look my dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life again! He was lost, but now he is found!” (Vs.31-32 - NLT).

    It is never too late for any person, who still has blood running warm through their veins, to return to the FATHER GOD, WHO will always have a place prepared for us. The “right time” to come to the FATHER is always “right now”, and the “right way” to come is always, “just as you are”. And GOD will always celebrate with open arms, the return of even those who may be considered by others to be “the least of HIS children” in society.  

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander 

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