Luke 15:1–2 (NLT) 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!
Jesus had an agenda! Luke 19:10 (NLT) "The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Luke 5:32 (NIV) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
John 8:3–11 (NLT) 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.9 When theaccusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" 11 "No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."
The Religious: Matthew 23:3–5 (NLT) ..Practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example.For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 5 "Everything they do is for show...
Legalism: excessive adherence to law or formula. "Legalism points to the law and misses the point of the law."
"A bad Attitude is a bad action."
The Prodigal on the Premises Luke 15:25–32 (NLT) 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 your Father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.' 28 "The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His Father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!' 31 "His Father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!' "
The bitterness of the older brother: 1. He was angry.
Anger tends to accuse.
Proverbs 29:11 (NLT) 11 Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.
2. He was stubborn: He wouldn't go in.
3. He was resistant to the Father
4. He had a broken perspective
5. He missed the Father's heart
Pursuing tenderness: 1. Walk in forgiveness. 2. Live with a spirit(attitude) of gratitude. 3. Continually ask the Lord to make you tender.
"The older brother, just like the younger brother, underestimated Abbas's kindness."
