Ben Wilson

Like that would just sink into your heart the same way as hearing the story of this man who's wounded and then an old ethnic enemy comes upon him and helps him anyways. I think that's much more effective at driving home the point. All right, and then one of the other favorite parables is the prodigal son. So the Pharisees ask why he associates with the people he does.

Like that would just sink into your heart the same way as hearing the story of this man who's wounded and then an old ethnic enemy comes upon him and helps him anyways. I think that's much more effective at driving home the point. All right, and then one of the other favorite parables is the prodigal son. So the Pharisees ask why he associates with the people he does.

Specifically, he often dines with known sinners and with publicans. Publicans were Roman tax collectors. Rome actually didn't have a public tax collection apparatus for their provinces. So they would essentially bid out the service to a wealthy citizen. And at first, this is a very profitable affair, but quickly the price to administer one of these provinces skyrockets.

Specifically, he often dines with known sinners and with publicans. Publicans were Roman tax collectors. Rome actually didn't have a public tax collection apparatus for their provinces. So they would essentially bid out the service to a wealthy citizen. And at first, this is a very profitable affair, but quickly the price to administer one of these provinces skyrockets.

And what that means is that many of these people who've taken on these contracts, if they're not going to take a loss, have to squeeze this province for everything that it has. And so these private tax collectors were called publicani, publicans.

And what that means is that many of these people who've taken on these contracts, if they're not going to take a loss, have to squeeze this province for everything that it has. And so these private tax collectors were called publicani, publicans.

And they were hated because they really had this pressure to bleed you dry in places like Judea in order to make back the money that they had spent to get this contract to collect taxes. Okay. And Jesus has no qualms about associating with publicani. It should be noted that most of the rank and file publicans, these are just employees. These aren't the people making the rules.

And they were hated because they really had this pressure to bleed you dry in places like Judea in order to make back the money that they had spent to get this contract to collect taxes. Okay. And Jesus has no qualms about associating with publicani. It should be noted that most of the rank and file publicans, these are just employees. These aren't the people making the rules.

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 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.