"Therefore Came His Father Out, and Entreated Him."

I AM at a loss to know which to admire most, the “compassion” which impelled the father to run and kiss the younger son, while he was yet “a great way off”: or the desire after him which drew the father out to entreat the elder son.
And can it be that you, my reader, are untouched by such varied grace? “The grace of God that bringeth salvation unto to all men hath appeared” (Titus 2:1111For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11)), that grace of God which brought Jesus into this world, as the whole parable (Luke 15:33And he spake this parable unto them, saying, (Luke 15:3)) shows, to “receive sinners and eat with them.” Nay more, to seek and to entreat them, that He may find His joy in bringing salvation to them, and bringing them into it. “Eating with them” (vs. 2), making them at home in His company, and finding His joy in theirs― “His delights were with the sons of men” (Prov. 8:3131Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:31)), that is, Wisdom’s, the Son of God, who
“Dwells in His bosom, knoweth all
That in that bosom lies,
And came to earth to make it known,
That we might share His joys.”
Can it be, I say, that you are untouched by the riches of such grace? Mark that father! The servant has returned and told him of his son’s demeanor, when he heard the cause of the merriment―that “he was angry, and would not go in.” And, instead of raising his father’s resentment, this is the very thing which drew him forth to entreat his son― “therefore came his father out.” What grace! How it displays the attitude of God towards this world, “To wit, that God was, in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” And that this is His attitude still, the remainder of the passage (2 Cor. 5:19-2119To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:19‑21)) shows, “and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead be ye reconciled to God.” To think of GOD beseeching us―beseeching sinners! And that after the world has rejected and murdered His Son! What grace! What matchless grace!
“Oh! lovely attitude! He stands
With open heart, and outstretched hands.
Oh! matchless kindness, and He shows
His matchless kindness to His foes.”
And is it possible that thou, my reader, hast treated God so?― in self-righteous satisfaction despising grace, and such as feel they have no goodness of their own, only vileness and unworthiness? Dost thou hold aloof from Him who receives sinners, and communes (eats) with them? Dost thou fancy thyself aught else and that He can deal with thee on any other principle than that of grace, of free, sovereign grace, of undeserved favor? Then know thou that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” and that He justifies “freely [that is, undeservedly] by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23, 2423For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:23‑24)), and thus alone.
“Open the door, He’ll enter in,
And sup with you, and you with Him.”
W. G. B.