Inspire Bible for Kids Luke Sampler - Book - Page 46
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LUKE 14:34
Devotion
The Wayward Son
What job did the wayward son
get when his money ran out?
a. plowing fields
b. feeding pigs
c. herding sheep
Jesus told a story about two
sons. The younger son was tired
of living at home. He longed to
be on his own and do what he
wanted. So he asked his father
for the money he was meant to
inherit later. The father gave it to
him, and the son was on his way.
The son had a great time doing
everything he wanted, but then
he ran out of money. He found
a job feeding pigs. Since the
Jews considered pigs religiously
unclean animals, they were
not to eat or even touch pigs.
But the son was too desperate
to care.
Finally, the son returned home
and asked his father to hire
him on as a servant. Instead,
his father dressed him in fine
clothes and prepared a feast.
When the older brother saw
all this, he was angry. He’d been
responsible and worked hard
while his brother was gone. But
now his brother was getting all
the attention, and the father was
even holding a feast for him!
Jesus told this story to show
that the Pharisees were like
the older brother. They were
unhappy that sinners were
being welcomed into God’s
Kingdom. Yet it is always worth
celebrating when a sinner
repents and begins a new
relationship with God!
Focus Verses: Luke 15:15-16
The Whole Story: Luke 15:11-32
34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make
it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and
understand!”
Parable of the Lost Sheep
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus
teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain
that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one
of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others
in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there
is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God
than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
15
Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins* and loses one. Won’t she light
a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way,
there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Parable of the Lost Son
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two
sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now
before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved
to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About
the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he
began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man
sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry
that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one
gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even
the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against
both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way
off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran
to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father,
I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of
being called your son.*’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the
house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost,
but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned
home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of
the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and
15:8 Greek ten drachmas. A drachma was the equivalent of a full day’s wage. 15:21 Some
manuscripts add Please take me on as a hired servant.
Answer: b
