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Bible knowledge of God’s Heart... (From Luke 15:17-32)

If you read Luke chapter 15 you find Jesus teaching with three parables (a story designed to teach some truth or moral lesson). He ends the first one of a lost sheep rescued, and the other of a lost coin found, by making the point that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

This parable followed, it’s about two sons of a loving father, one insists on leaving the father’s protection to live a life of self-centered pleasure, while the other remains loyal to the father, and expects the father to prefer him over his straying brother.
— The purpose is to teach us how God our heavenly Father also loves each of us, whether we choose a good or an evil life.
— It is sad that this example may be hard to grasp for those who have suffered abusive parenting, however, we must ask God’s Holy Spirit to show all of us the fact of our Heavenly Father’s great love.
— To examine this in modern terms I’m using the Good News Bible version in this quiz…

Luke 15:11-17… Jesus went on to say, “There was once a man who had two sons.  (12)  The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.’ So the man divided his property between his two sons.  (13)  After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living.  (14)  He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.  (15)  So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs.  (16)  He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.  (17)  At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve!

— This is an amazing example of how God understands the heart of men and women who seek self-centered pleasure and excitement… It is also an all too often scenario that such pursuits follow in life.

Q1. What happens in Vs.13-14?

a/ The son’s wealth is lost.     b/ Bad times fall upon the area.     c/ Both a & b.

Q2. What happens in Vs.15?

a/ The government steps in with welfare help.     b/ This once-wealthy son finds a job feeding pigs.

Q3. What happens in Vs.16-17?

a/ The pig’s food starts to look good.     b/ He regrets leaving home.     c/ Both a & b.

Continuing in Luke 15:18-20… I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you.  (19)  I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.” ‘  (20)  So he got up and started back to his father. “He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.

Q4. In Vs.18-19… This young man decides to…

a/ turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.     b/ return home and apologize.     c/ steal to survive.

Q5. What do we see in Vs.20?

a/ The father still watches for his lost son.     b/ The father still loves his straying son.     c/ Both a & b.

Reading in Luke 15:21-20… ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’  (22)  But the father called to his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.  (23)  Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!  (24)  For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.

Q6. What is Jesus trying to teach us in Luke 15:21-20?

a/ Our Heavenly Father still loves the lost.     b/ God will not reject any who repent.     c/ Both a & b.

(Quiz continued on Pg.#2)

Jesus went on to teach of other reactions in Luke 15:25-30… “In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing.  (26)  So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What’s going on?’  (27)  ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’  (28)  The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in.  (29)  But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends!  (30)  But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!'”

Q7. When the faithful son comes from working in the fields, what does he discover?

a/ A hot bath and a warm welcome.     b/ Everyone watching a soap opera.     c/ A party going on.

Q8. His reaction to all the music and dancing is to…

a/ join in and celebrate.     b/ refuse to go in.     c/ look for a pub that was still open.

Q9. Do you think the wayward son deserves this party?

a/ Yes, because he’s family.     b/ Yes, because everyone deserves a party.

c/ No, but the father is so happy to see him back that he feels the need to celebrate.

Q10. The faithful son feels angry because…

a/ they’ve never celebrated his faithfulness.     b/ they’ve killed his prize calf.     c/ he’s had a hard day.

Jesus ends this illustration in Luke 15:31-32… ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours.  (32)  But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’

Q11. From Vs. 31, what do we find the father had as a reward for this faithful son?

a/ A smaller part in his inheritance.     b/ Nothing, it has all been given to the returning son.

c/ Everything the father has will be given to him.

Q12. Perhaps you have been a long-time faithful follower of Jesus, as have I, if so how does this parable apply to us?

a/ We must see that EVERY human being is precious to God the Father.

b/ We must also see how God’s family needs to celebrate every lost soul saved.

c/ If we resent any sinner being forgiven and received with joy, we need to repent of such thoughts.

d/ All of the above…

In Luke 15, Jesus tried to show us God’s heart for His special creation, mankind.
– I hope His use of these examples recorded in Luke 15 opens our eyes and hearts to understand the reasons that God deals with us all with much more mercy and grace than we deserve… (KK)

(Click here for PDF copy Pg.#1)

(Click here for PDF copy Pg.#2)