November 14, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

The Pharisees and scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them a story. (Luke 15:2-3)

The Parable of the Prodigal Son accurately renders the fatherly love of God, which the religious leaders were supposed to make known but grossly misrepresented by their apathy toward sinners.

Nowhere in the story does the father demand the punishment of a substitute victim as a requirement to satisfy his wrath before he can pardon his son, unlike what popular atonement theories proclaim. Instead, he bears the loss of property and honor, and forgives his son without repayment whatsoever. There is no indignation in him. It is the older brother (an allusion to the hypocritical religious leaders) who is furious (and envious) and insusts on punishment for there to be "justice." But to the father, true justice is the forgiveness and restoration.

So banish that wrong image of an angry, unforgiving god. Renew your mind and experience eternal life by knowing the true God and His infinite goodness and mercy. And make Him known.