Tag: Luke 15

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Numbered but not just a number: The Good Shepherd Who seeks the lost sheep of humanity (Numbers 1; Luke 15)

Numbered but not a number: The Good Shepherd seeks the lost sheep of humanity (Numbers 1; Luke 15). A South American shepherd walks a sheep through a flock toward a sunset over mountains in the distance.

This study on Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness,” Numbers 1:1–4:20) focuses on Heaven’s concern for each individual member of Israel’s tribes. Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) touched on that with His three lost-and-found parables in Luke 15, particularly how a shepherd seeks one lost sheep. Though part of an orderly whole as God’s people, each person is valued. As the tribes were transformed from a multitude to a cohesive unit centered on God’s dwelling — the solution to the world’s anguish — so too may each Israelite accept the role and be renewed to uplift God’s legacy through Messiah. When all work in unison and depend on the Eternal, the salvation promised to the world through Israel will be fulfilled.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

No community without boundaries: Another lesson from the Prodigal Son parable (Deuteronomy 26–28; Luke 15)

No community without boundaries: Another lesson from the Prodigal Son parable (Deuteronomy 26–28; Luke 15)

There’s an old saying, “Good fences make good neighbors.” And the Torah reading תבוא Ki Tavo (“when you come in,” Deut. 26:1–29:8) emphasizes that blessings flow from God to people who establish and enforce proper boundaries.

Those include not only fences around property but also fences that clearly establish economic, spiritual and moral boundaries. But there can be no “wealth of nations” without “moral sentiments.”

This is an often overlooked lesson from Messiah Yeshua’s parable of the prodigal son.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Prepare now to stand and be counted on the Day of the LORD (Numbers 1–4; Luke 12, 15)

Prepare now to stand and be counted on the Day of the LORD (Numbers 1-4; Luke 12, 15). A black chess pawn is shown standing against seven white pawns.

Genealogy is a very popular hobby in our time. Many want to learn their origins. Some use insights history to understand where they are going. A springboard for such insights is the seemingly dull genealogical census in Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness,” Num. 1:1–4:20).

The stories of our ancestors — whether recent such as those who served in World War 2 or ancient Spiritual ancestors in the Bible — can teach us to stand for what is right, even if we have to stand alone, instead of staying silent when the world is careening into evil.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Passover Prophets and Writings

Luke 15: Loving the Lost, part 2: A Tale of Three Lambs

Studies in Prophets and Writings

This chapter covers a central theme via the interrelated parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son: The Son of God was sent to “find” and “bring back” the “lost sheep” of Israel. With the soon approach of the annual Lamb Selection Day for Passover — 10th day of the first month of God’s calendar — it’s fitting to note God’s “tale of three lambs” in Luke 15 and throughout Scripture