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Luke 15:1-2
"Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear Him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'"
NIV
Luke 15:22-32
"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.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
'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.'"
NIV
Characteristics of people who seek to please the law rather than God
People who seek to please the law:
1. are hard workers
Luke 15:25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing." NIV
2. seem innocent
Luke 15:26
"So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on." NIV
3. are not expecting others to repent
Luke 15:26
"So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on." NIV
4. get angry
Luke 15:27-28
"'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him." NIV
5. are bold and demanding
Luke 15:28
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him." NIV
6. are more concerned about work than relationship
Luke 15:29
"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.'" NIV
7. are more concerned about obedience than relationship
Luke 15:29
"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.'" NIV
Matthew 23:23
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." NIV
8. reject relationship with the father for stuff
Luke 15:29
"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.'" NIV
9. easily see other people’s sin
Luke 15:30
"But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' " NIV
10. see the worst case scenarios
Luke 15:30
"But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'" NIV
Luke 15:13
"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." NIV
11. do not understand grace
Luke 15:30
"But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'" NIV
12. miss the blessings that they already have
Luke 15:31
"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.'" NIV
13. miss relationship with others
Luke 15:32
"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.'" NIV
14. are really seeking to please themselves
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