Ben Wilson

They didn't buy this contract at exorbitant prices. They're just contractors who are trying to make a living. But they're totally hated in the provinces. And so the Pharisees can't believe that Jesus has dinner with these people. It also strikes me that he is dining with people who are hated in sort of opposite directions. The sinners, because they are low, right?

They're people of ill repute, usually poor, the detrius of society, and the publicans because they're high, because they oppress, because they refuse to acknowledge their privilege. At least that's kind of how it's typically seen. So in modern terms, basically he's dining with the worst stereotype of both sides, with the inner city welfare queen and the MAGA racist.

They're people of ill repute, usually poor, the detrius of society, and the publicans because they're high, because they oppress, because they refuse to acknowledge their privilege. At least that's kind of how it's typically seen. So in modern terms, basically he's dining with the worst stereotype of both sides, with the inner city welfare queen and the MAGA racist.

And so reading now from Luke 15, the Pharisees and scribes murmured saying, this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And in response, he gives a few parables to explain why he goes out of his way to teach and associate with these segments of society. And the final parable is now known as the parable of the prodigal son.

And so reading now from Luke 15, the Pharisees and scribes murmured saying, this man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And in response, he gives a few parables to explain why he goes out of his way to teach and associate with these segments of society. And the final parable is now known as the parable of the prodigal son.

A certain wealthy man has two sons and the younger son asks for his portion of the inheritance early. And his dad's not dead, but he says, hey, I want to cash out now. Give me my inheritance. So the dad gives it to him. So he goes into a foreign country and wastes the money on riotous living, presumably sex, drugs and rock and roll. But there is a famine in this foreign land.

A certain wealthy man has two sons and the younger son asks for his portion of the inheritance early. And his dad's not dead, but he says, hey, I want to cash out now. Give me my inheritance. So the dad gives it to him. So he goes into a foreign country and wastes the money on riotous living, presumably sex, drugs and rock and roll. But there is a famine in this foreign land.

And so the son runs out of money and he ends up with this horrible job feeding pigs. And he doesn't even have enough money to eat consistently. And he has to eat husks of corn. And so he says to himself, quote, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger.

And so the son runs out of money and he ends up with this horrible job feeding pigs. And he doesn't even have enough money to eat consistently. And he has to eat husks of corn. And so he says to himself, quote, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger.

I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.

And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry and would not go in.

And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry and would not go in.

Therefore came his father out and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment. And yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Therefore came his father out and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment. And yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for thy brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. It's just a very powerful way to illustrate this principle that, yeah, I'm trying to go to the people who were lost and bring them back. Isn't that worth celebrating?

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for thy brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. It's just a very powerful way to illustrate this principle that, yeah, I'm trying to go to the people who were lost and bring them back. Isn't that worth celebrating?

Even though, yeah, like the righteous people, they have their reward. They're keeping the commandments and they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. But we should celebrate when people who were wayward come back. And he could have just said that, but the story just is really, really powerful. And so that's one of these things that great communicators are good at is making comparisons.