• Calloused Hearts (Hard-ly Hearted)
• Almost Deaf Ears (Hardly Hearing)
• Closed Eyes (Hardly Seeing)

‘For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ (cf. Isaiah 6:9-10) 

Seeing + Hearing + Understanding = Turning + Healing

Related posts:

1. Acts 28:27 Acts 28:27 Everything Old is New Again … Isaiah’s Warning...
2. Matthew 21:33, 35-39 Matthew 21:33, 35-39 If Only This Was Only a Parable...
3. Luke 7:22-23 Luke 7:22-23 To Be(lieve) or Not to Be(lieve): That Was John’s...

• Turned Fathers Hearts to Children
• Turned Disobedient Hearts to Righteous Wisdom
• Made Ready a People Prepared for the Lord

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John Prepared People for Jesus’ Appearing, Leading, and Salvation as Messiah.

Related posts:

1. Luke 12:11 Luke 12:11 Persecution Preparation is Trusting in Spirit Provision for...
2. Luke 9:7-9 Luke 9:7-9 Herod was a Victim of His Own Willingness...
3. Luke 15:4-7 Luke 15:4-7 The Lost Sheep Became a Cause for Great...

• Puts the Found Sheep on His Shoulders
• Goes Home
• Calls His Friends and Neighbors for a Party

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Jesus’ Parable was also a Literal Metaphor — Eternal Shepherd Saves Lost-then-Found, Sinner-Sheep

Related posts:

1. Luke 15:18-20, 22-23 Luke 15:18-20, 22-23 The Prodigal (Finally) Had a Real Plan...
2. Luke 14:12-14 Luke 14:12-14 When Partying for Faith and Profit, the Guest...
3. Luke 21:11, 16 Luke 21:11, 16 First, the Bad News: Global Disasters … Upheaval...

• Set Out for Home
• Go Back to His Father
• Speak to His Father

The Prodigal Had a Carefully Planned Speech

• I Have Sinned
• I Am No Longer Worthy
• Make Me (Like) a Servant

The Father Had Other Plans for His Son

• Saw Him (with Compassion)
• Ran to Him
• Hugged Him
• Kissed Him

The Father Had Other Things to Say about Three Fashion Statements (and One Part of a Feast Menu)

• A Robe
• A Ring
• Sandals
• A Fattened Calf

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. [...] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

The Son’s Supplication Turned into a Celebration

Related posts:

1. Luke 15:20 Luke 15:20 Full Compassion in Fast Action Ran to His...
2. Luke 15:4-7 Luke 15:4-7 The Lost Sheep Became a Cause for Great...
3. Luke 5:24-25 Luke 5:24-25 The Man Very Gladly Followed Jesus’ Orders The...

• Sins Wiped Out
• Times of Refreshing Come from God
• Christ Sent as Appointed

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you.” NIV

God’s Response to Repentance & [re]Turning to God (among other things?): Sins Wiped, Refreshing Given & Messiah Sent

No related posts.