Luke 15:1-3 "1 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying," Our Lenten daily devotionals focus on the Parables of Jesus. Yesterday we concluded the parable of believers as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14–16), where Jesus calls for visible faith tempered by humble motives—shining to glorify God, not to impress people. Today we turn to Luke 15 and the parable of the prodigal son, beginning with its introductory verses. These set the stage for three parables that celebrate God’s joy over repentance. The crowd drawn to Jesus includes tax collectors and sinners—marginalized groups shunned by the religious elite. Tax collectors were viewed as corrupt Roman collaborators, and “sinners” as those openly defying Jewish law. Yet they flocked to hear Jesus’ message of grace and restoration. The Pharisees and s...
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This verse concludes Jesus’ teaching on believers being “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14–15). It emphasizes that the purpose of good works is not self-promotion, but God’s glorification. Just as a lamp is placed on a stand to illuminate a room, Christians are to live in such a visible, authentic way that their actions reflect Christ’s light. The “good works” refer to deeds of love, integrity, compassion, humility, and justice—actions that flow from a transformed life in Christ. When others observe these deeds, they are not meant to praise the believer, but to recognize God’s goodness and respond by glorifying Him. This verse calls for both visibility and humility: believers should not hide their faith, yet their motivation must be pure—focused on honoring God, not gaining human approval. Let your light shine. Amen. 🙏