The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-29
N N NNNEG3ROKEYN > llEABERNACLE
-5IBEE.sTUDroN
THE TROPICAL SON
Luke 15:11-32-May 3

T will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, Verse 1S
 The setting of the parable of the prodi- gal son demonstrates the Masters ob- ject in giving it. He was seeking to show the Pharisees that their position respect ing the publcans and sinners was wrong. He here pointed out that this wrong at titude was likely to cost them their own share in the kingdom.
 In the parable the father evidently rep resented Jehovah God The two sons here represented the two general classes into which the Jewish nation divided itself The elder son represented those who sat in Moses seat, and who remained loyal to God in their outwardprofession at least, and in their endeavors outwardly to keep His law. The younger son rep resented the common people, not so re- hgiously strict as to their ideals This class misused their privileges as members of the nation of Israel, as beneficiaries of the divine promises. They wasted their opportunities in self-gratification, not at tempting to live godly lives
 This younger son class of publcans and sinners felt their degredation, just as de- scribed in the parable. They felt long ing to be back in the Fathers house, yet they hesitated to go back. It was just such characters that Jesus especially en- couraged, saying: Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy iacen; and will give you rest" Jesus represented the Fathers house. and prompted the younger son class of the Jews to have confidence that the Father would receive them when they came to Him penitently. The parable tells that some of this class came back to God And not only were they abundantly pardoned, but because of their penitence they were granted spe- cial manifestations of Gods favor
 Application of the Parable
 How grandly this parable illustrates the love of God-its lengths and breadths and heights and depths The best robe and the other attentions given to the re- pentant one well illustrates the provision God has made for all who return unto Him from the ways of sin. The robe and all the blessings are provided through Christ-covering for all the imperfections of the fallen nature. The fatted calf well represents the IedSt or Tat tnlngS WHICH God has provided for the penitent class Isaiah 25.6-S.
 Making a particular application of the parable, we might say that the time when the Father accepted the prodigal, and put upon him the. robe of Christ,s righteousness provided Yin His sacrifice and freely granted to all who during this age come unto the Father by Him, was at Pentecost. The feast and merry mak- ing well h.. ises of God, which become applicable to those covered by the robe of Christs righteousness, and accepted into God S family by the begetting of the holy spirit.
 Th5s is the marriage feast represented in another of our Lords parables. (Mat- them 22s.-14.) The elder brother of our lesson was bidden but would not go in He was jealous that the father should receive the young spendthrift. This jeal- ous spirit apparently kept many of the Pharisees from appreciating the gift of God in Christ. Just as shown in the parables, they refused to enter in They did not show the right spirit for those for whom the kingly privileges were in- tended. all of whom must be meek, gen. tie, loving-copies of Gods dear Son in their generous good will toward all who desire to come to the Father.
 The elder brothers refusal to partici- pate in the festivities reminds us of an- other of our Lords parables respecting the marriage feast. Those originally bid den appreciated not; one went to his farm, another to his merchandise They dishonored the host who had invited them to his banquet. Then the serv- ants were sent out into the streets and lanes to gather whoever desired to come, and afterwards sent to invite all every where who desired 70 participate. Fl. nally the full number ordained to be of this class was found
 The Principle Applies Broadly
 While the parable of our lesson espe- cially Illustrated the two classes of Jews, the principles set forth apply gen. erally For instance, there are noblo characters in the world. people who were