I have written fair treatment parables:FAIR is giving what one deserves...what they have earned ... that is FAIR...
Parable 1
In an old house there sits above the fireplace a unique large Tiffany Vase with a rich family history. One of seven sons returns home after partying mad at his parents and took the vase and smashes it on the floor. The next day the son is truly sorry about what he has done and asks his parents for forgiveness and the parents are willing to forgive the son, but this is not the first time he has acted rashly. The father has collected every piece of glass from the vase and says to the son: “we will work two hours each night for as long as it takes with super glue putting the vase back together as best we can”. After a month the vase is returned to the mantel for all to see.
Did the family receive restitution from son that smashed the vase?
Was the father looking to repair the old vase with a glued up vase or was the father trying to accomplish something else with this month long effort?
Did the father just need to forgive the son and not go through all this waste of time?
Was the son punished or disciplined and did atonement take place?
In the end did the son return to his pre-smashing status or should he have moved to an even better relationship with his father?
Why return the vase to a place where all can see?
Parable 2
In another house sitting above the fireplace is a unique large Tiffany vase with a rich family history. One of seven sons, who lift home five years earlier, breaks into his parent’s house and takes that vase and smashes it on the floor. This is all caught on the security cameras, so the next day the loving father goes to the son’s house and tells the son he forgives him and is carrying a box with all the glass from the vase and super glue. They are to work together two hours each night to put the vase back together, but the son totally refuses to do anything and throws his father out in the street. The insurance company then goes after the son and takes all he has and puts him in jail.
The father said he forgave the son, but did forgiveness take place? (Matt. 18: 21-35)
Was the son disciplined or punished by the insurance company?
Does the child being discipline in the first parable have to equal the punishment of the child in the second parable to be fair and just?
Does punishment have to equal discipline?
Are both these parables fair treatment?
There is NOT ONE PERSON that deserves or has EARNED salvation
Right!!! God forgives them and they humble accept God’s charity (forgiveness).
That is why we need GRACE AND MERCY
God’s forgiveness is merciful/gracious/charitable/Loving.
Grace... giving one what they do not deserve ..... Mercy NOT giving one what they deserve
The prodigal son received grace/mercy (got what he did not deserve), so do you feel the prodigal son was not treated fairly and justly by his Father, since that is the fair/just way we should treat our repentant children that have been fairly/justly disciplined?
I fall on my face before A God that has thrown away "fairness " and given me His Grace and His Mercy
Why can God not be both?
BTW that is what the prodigal son got..... grace and mercy
Christians are to become like the Father in the prodigal son story treating others fairly/justly plus merciful/gracious.
Do you see the difference between disciplining a child and seeking retribution from a person refusing to accept discipline?
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