Re:Verse reading–Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (day four)
In Jesus’ parable, the older brother represented the Pharisees. The younger brother represented the tax collectors, sinners and gentiles. The Pharisees rejected those who were not ‘pure’ in their obedience to God (the father in our story). In their own eyes, the Pharisees believed they were righteous before God. Just as Saul believed that he was doing God a favor by purging the sinners from the world, the Pharisees were angry at the thought that God might show mercy to the sinners and forgive them. They were blinded to the love of God the Father.
Saul too was blinded…it took a face to face encounter with Christ to open his eyes. In His parable, Jesus pressed the Pharisees with the need to submit to the love and authority of God. They needed to recognize themselves as sinners in need of forgiveness and restoration. How about you? Do you have an accurate picture of your position before God and your need for repentance?
We, human beings, all are blinded of our own sins and are sinful of convicting others as unrighteousness. Right or wrong, moral or immoral are in the eyes of the beholders. Knowing that God sets the standard of righteousness will help minimize unfair judgement toward other human beings who are as sinful as we are before God!
It is of sinful human nature that we rush into pointing fingers to others other than ourselves. We are blinded of our own sins just like the Pharisees. I am convinced that we would be admitted to the Kingdom of God first when we recognize our sins, and repent in need of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and restoration.
I could not agree more that, just like the Pharisees, we all have the need to submit to God’s supremacy, love and authority. Righteousness is set by God, not by humans!