Read this paragraph. of all the attributes essential to a respected man or woman or to a respected nation, the predominant characteristic is self-discipline. laws cannot be made compelling people to suppress their desire for power or position. no method of legislating such wisdom exists. as free people, we must face a choice between two types of discipline. one is the self-discipline that is still open to us—the kind that free people and free nations exercise when they select the executives, lawmakers, and judges who will govern them and assure their protection and well-being. the second is a cold-blooded, ill-intentioned, form of discipline that may be thrust upon us by strangers—the discipline of force, terrorism, suspicion, and intimidation—the discipline used in totalitarian regimes. what is the theme of the above paragraph? law self-discipline force, terrorism, suspicion legislating wisdom

11-32. the main character in the parable, the forgiving father, whose character remains constant throughout the story, is a picture of god. in telling the story, jesus identifies himself with god in his loving attitude to the lost. the younger son symbolizes the lost (the tax collectors and sinners of that day, luke 15: 1), and the elder brother represents the self-righteous (the pharisees and teachers of the law of that day, luke 15: 2). the major theme of this parable seems not to be so much the conversion of the sinner, as in the previous two parables of luke 15, but rather the restoration of a believer into fellowship with the father. in the first two parables, the owner went out to look for what was lost (luke 15: 1-10), whereas in this story the father waits and watches eagerly for his son's return. we see a progression through the three parables from the relationship of one in a hundred (luke 15: 1-7), to one in ten (luke 15: 8-10), to one in one (luke 15: 11-32), demonstrating god’s love for each individual and his personal attentiveness towards all humanity. we see in this story the graciousness of the father overshadowing the sinfulness of the son, as it is the memory of the father’s goodness that brings the prodigal son to repentance (romans 2: 4).

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