Some interesting points, but I think that your talk over-emphasises some aspects and misses some key things. There is a danger in conjecture when talking about Jesus's parables (and this is His longest of 22 verses). There's nothing in the parable, for example, to suggest that the father waited several years for his son to return. It's key for the understanding of this parable to realise that the main thrust of Jesus's point is at the attitude and thinking of the elder brother. You are correct in saying strongly that God loves and forgives, but our challenge is to forgive and rejoice in the repentance of a sinner. It's a point that the elder brother (and the Jews of the time) missed entirely.
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Some interesting points, but I think that your talk over-emphasises some aspects and misses some key things. There is a danger in conjecture when talking about Jesus's parables (and this is His longest of 22 verses). There's nothing in the parable, for example, to suggest that the father waited several years for his son to return. It's key for the understanding of this parable to realise that the main thrust of Jesus's point is at the attitude and thinking of the elder brother. You are correct in saying strongly that God loves and forgives, but our challenge is to forgive and rejoice in the repentance of a sinner. It's a point that the elder brother (and the Jews of the time) missed entirely.
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