July 2, 2023 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • Matthew 13:44–46
This parable is about the coming of the Bride Groom-Jesus Christ to celebrate His wedding with the church. This is directed to people in the church. There are two groups called out here-those who are ready and those who are not. Those who are wise and those who are foolish. One group has what is needed the other does not. The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids
Jesus shocks the lawyer with a parable about a man who is robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A priest and Levite (servant to priests) come by but do not stop to help the man. But then a Samaritan comes along who tends to the man and pays to put him up in an inn until he recovers. We miss the shocking nature of this parable because we don’t understand just how much Jews hated Samaritans. o admit that it was the Samaritan who was a true neighbor to this man and not a fellow Jew would have been hard for the lawyer. The Good Samaritan
This is a parable about the heart of God for those who are lost. The Father has two sons: The younger one who rebels and uses the Father’s resources to live as he wishes and it’s not until he loses everything that he comes to his senses and returns to the Father. Then older son stays home and obeys on the outside, but his heart is revealed by his attitude towards the younger brother who returns and is forgiven. The Father loves both the same and both have to decide how they will respond to that love. The Prodigal Son
