I remember reading in Dallas Willard a number of years ago that “Jesus was the smartest man who ever lived,” and being surprised by that statement, and then surprised at myself that I would find it surprising. His point was that Jesus wasn’t “just” sent to die for us, that as God Incarnate his teachings would be the wisest, most helpful, most brilliant ones we could find, and we would do well to study them and learn from Him. This book sounds very interesting.
It is refreshing when interpretors affirm that the target of this parable in Luke 15 is the attitude and posture of the older brother. (I say "this parable", because such is the language of vs 3. It is the only mention of 'parable' among the three scenes--'lost sheep, lost coin, lost son'--which implies that this is one unified parable.) I'm curious, though, if Williams mentions the glaring omission in the third vignette of the lost son, as compared with the first two vignettes. In each of the vignettes there something lost, something found, and great celebration. However, with the lost sheep and lost coin there is another component, a diligent search. Where is the search for the lost son? Who was supposed to be looking for and rescuing the lost son? We find the answer in the interplay between the father and the older brother. Initially, the older brother is told that the celebration is for "your brother" - v27, but the older brother flatly refuses to even acknowledge that he has a brother when he says to his father - "this son of yours" - v30. However, the father reminds his older son that they had to celebrate and be glad because "this brother of yours" was lost and is found. Who was supposed to be searching for the lost son? His brother! This is the point of the parable, the Pharisees and scribes were marginalising the 'sinners' rather than seeking them out and rescuing them.
I remember reading in Dallas Willard a number of years ago that “Jesus was the smartest man who ever lived,” and being surprised by that statement, and then surprised at myself that I would find it surprising. His point was that Jesus wasn’t “just” sent to die for us, that as God Incarnate his teachings would be the wisest, most helpful, most brilliant ones we could find, and we would do well to study them and learn from Him. This book sounds very interesting.
It is refreshing when interpretors affirm that the target of this parable in Luke 15 is the attitude and posture of the older brother. (I say "this parable", because such is the language of vs 3. It is the only mention of 'parable' among the three scenes--'lost sheep, lost coin, lost son'--which implies that this is one unified parable.) I'm curious, though, if Williams mentions the glaring omission in the third vignette of the lost son, as compared with the first two vignettes. In each of the vignettes there something lost, something found, and great celebration. However, with the lost sheep and lost coin there is another component, a diligent search. Where is the search for the lost son? Who was supposed to be looking for and rescuing the lost son? We find the answer in the interplay between the father and the older brother. Initially, the older brother is told that the celebration is for "your brother" - v27, but the older brother flatly refuses to even acknowledge that he has a brother when he says to his father - "this son of yours" - v30. However, the father reminds his older son that they had to celebrate and be glad because "this brother of yours" was lost and is found. Who was supposed to be searching for the lost son? His brother! This is the point of the parable, the Pharisees and scribes were marginalising the 'sinners' rather than seeking them out and rescuing them.