How do one’s existing beliefs affect their ability to process new information? In the case of the Pharisees, Jesus’ message of repentance, forgiveness, and joy was incomprehensible. Their world view and lives had been built around laws and rules, and Jesus’ way was nonsense to most of them. While sinners flocked to hear Jesus’ call to repentances, the Pharisees were repulsed by what they saw as “His blasphemy”. When Jesus welcomed ‘sinners’, their interpretation was that He condoned throwing out the law while elevating sinful people and their behavior. The Pharisees were among the most educated people of their day. However, because of their bias, most could not understand the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Jesus’ parables are not just simple moral lessons, reminding people to change their behavior. With very few words, Jesus uses the parables to explain concepts that are so simple anyone can grasp and follow them, yet so complex that no one can completely understand or master them. No wonder the Pharisees, with their rigid thinking, were mystified!
Jesus’ Message of Repentance
Jesus indicates that the parables of the sheep and the coin are about repentance. Interestingly, sheep and coins can’t actually repent. There’s more to these parables than first meets the eye!
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
Even more interestingly, the prodigal son did repent, but Jesus concludes this parable by saying it is a message about the lost being found.
“‘We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:32
Jesus tells and shows us that repentance is central to reuniting with God. Repentance is the one thing listeners can choose or not choose to do. However, these parables give us a mystery to ponder, not a black and white formula to follow.
Jesus’ Message of Belonging
God’s treasuring what belongs to Him is central to all three parables. Jesus’ listeners were taught that repenting was critical to His’ teaching. More importantly, they received the very good news that repentance is not the only pivotal requirement to entering the kingdom of God. Anyone who hears Jesus’ words can be welcomed into God’s kingdom because we all belong to Him. Coins and sheep can’t repent, and yet they’re used to show that God desperately wants to be reunited with people. Sons can repent, and yet the parable of the prodigal son shows us that the Father will set everything aside to welcome us. God is a loving, caring, and good father. Though He does not take the responsibility of repenting from us, He acknowledges our limitations. Though being all powerful, He still seeks us out, so that we can then do our part and repent.
Application: How does bias affect our ability to receive the good news of God’s kingdom? Interestingly, bias may so affect our perceptions that we can be completely unaware of our blind spots. This lesson hit home for me when I was attending a small group in a very large church. At first glance, the church seemed very racially and economically diverse but cohesive. During our small group discussions, it became clear that people of different backgrounds and biases were hearing very different messages! It was almost like the small group members were attending different churches.
How does bias affect our ability to understand that people we may overlook or judge are treasured by God? How does it affect our understanding that we always belong to God? Pray that God would reveal blind spots and biases you might have. Ask that He help you understand the good news of repentance and belonging the way He does.
by Sherry Sommer
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