“THE 41 PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST”
28 general parables and 13 kingdom of heaven parables
 Parable #36 –  “THE PRODIGAL SON”
Luke 15:11-14,15-18,19-22,23-26,27-30,31-32 
a.k.a. the “Elder Brother Syndrome”
The 22^nd of 28 general parables

 BACKGROUND:

This time frame is broken into four time periods of (a) 7 weeks + (b) 62 weeks + (c) the mystery church age of about 2,000 years + (d) 1 week = 70 weeks and is explained as follows:

#1. Seven weeks of years is 7 x 7 = 49 years … the time it takes to restore and build Jerusalem from 445BC to 396BC.

#2. Sixty two weeks of years is 62 x 7 = 434 years … the time from the building of Jerusalem in 396BC to Christ being cut off at the cross in 32AD.

#3. The church age of approximately 2,000 years

#4. One week of years is 1 x 7 = 7 years … this is the seven years of tribulation of God’s wrath upon the earth, that takes place after the rapture … called Daniel’s 70^th week.

 The following Timeline will help (not drawn to scale):

  Luke 15:11-14,15-18,19-22,23-26,27-30,31-32 

Lessons:
1. The elder son is Israel

2. The Gentiles are the younger son

3. Israel is jealous and resentful that the wasteful son is not only brought back into the fold, but is shown favouritism and blessing without any effort.

4. Israel has had a relationship/fellowship with God for around 1900 years through much toil and trouble with works and animal blood sacrifices the Father. Even when Christ was on earth he promised to fulfil all the works necessary for Israel on their behalf … and they rejected him. But now God the Son, after the cross has given redemption to all … including Israel … it’s a new dispensation.

5. The Gentiles waltz back in the door and get the red carpet treatment.

6. The Jews are put aside for about 2,000 years … being the Christian church age.

The Jews have deliberately been made jealous by God as the following scriptures testify ….

“As he saith also in Osee (book of Hosea), I will call them my people, which were not my people (the Gentiles); and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people (Gentiles); there shall they be called the children of the living God.” (Romans 9:25-26)

“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness (the younger son), have attained to righteousness (right standing with God without effort Ephesians 2:8-9), even the righteousness which is of faith.

But Israel (the elder son), which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness (even though they had been trying for nearly 2,000 years … with works!).

Wherefore? Because they (Israel) sought it not by faith (no works), but as it were by the works of the law (Galatians 3:10).

For they stumbled at that stumblingstone (this is Jesus Christ); As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence (Isaiah 8:14): and whosoever believeth on him (Acts 16:31) shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 9:30-33)

Harley Hitchcock
November 2023

www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com

“THE 41 PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST”
28 general parables and 13 kingdom of heaven parables
 Parable #37 –  “UNJUST STEWARD”
Luke 16:1-4,5-8,9-12,13  
The 23^rd of 28 general parables

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