|
|
Religious Book Store > Religious books beginning with T
|
A Tale of Two Sons: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder |
Author: John MacArthur
Published: 2008-04-01 |
List price: $22.99
Our price: $15.63
|
Usually ships in 24 hours
As of: December 04th, 2008 12:07:41 AM
|
|
|
Customer comments on this selection.
 Outstanding Study: Must Re-read
Pastor John MacArthur does it again. He is such a blessing and a gift from the Lord to teach us the bible. This book is a detailed exposition of the Prodigal Son parable that appears in Luke Ch. 15:(11-32).
I continually marvelled at the many deep lessons that Pastor MacArthur mines in this familar story. He looks at the story from the perspectives of the lost son, father, older brother, and the Pharisees. The story is one of incredible grace once the sinner recognizes the need for repentance. The story would have been familiar to the culture of the day. MacArthur shows how much relevance the story still applies in today's world. Isn't the Bible wonderful? Timeless.
The book ends with some unexpected analysis that I had never fully considered. I won't spoil the thunder because all need to read it.
Many parents will benefit from reading this book. As the father of an estranged son, I gained tremendous comfort to sustain me during these difficult days of rejection. I am more prepared to act if and when my prodigal ever returns home. I haven't given up hope.. and my prodigal knows the door is always open.
I plan to reread this book as I would fully expect I will see and understand new depths. Thank you Pastor MacArthur.
 Great insights...
John MacArthur's book/sermon series on the Prodigal Son called, "A Tale of Two Sons" was very well done. MacArthur, from what I know, does not actually write any of his books for the purpose of being a book, but they are all taken from his sermons and study notes on the subject. Which most pastors do these days as they really don't have time to actually write books since they are studying all week for their sermons and doing other pastoral duties. Not a bad thing, just some insight.
I wasn't sure how I would like this book as I figured that I knew "what there was to know" about this parable found in the book of Luke. Let's just say that I was overwhelmingly humbled in my knowledge.
MacArthur masterfully goes through the parable to give you insights to the culture, history and textual criticism to give the reader the understanding of exactly what was going on throughout this parable.
He breaks down the parable in three parts because that is how the parable is focused in on as Christ told it. The three parts are: The prodigal son, the father and the eldest son.
At points throughout this book I believe that MacArthur does look to much into things and takes them as fact, when in actuality the text is silent on the issue so there is no way of knowing. But, this is overshadowed of his brilliant look to the Scripture and the culture to give you a taste of what it must have been like to be standing there as a hearer of Christ.
He teaches you as though you were standing there as either a mere onlooker or a Pharisee and gives you the responses that must have been going through each one's head. I actually think this is the main reason that this makes this book truly well worth the read.
Overall, MacArthur does a great job handling the text and culture to make sure that you really glean as much as you can with this parable, with the focus being on the joy in heaven when even one man repents.
The shocker comes in the end, when MacArthur gives you the last part of the parable that was left out of the Bible for "us to decide." MacArthur gives it straight on how the parable actually ended and it is an ending that truly made this book stand alone as a great understanding of the parable and what it meant for prophecy and the Pharisees. But, I will let you read that for yourself. Recommended
 Bad Theology
How can the elder son be regarded as typifying the Pharisees, when the title "son" typifies of belonging to the family head? The salvation message states that one can only become a child of The Father through believing (or trust) in Jesus Christ as providing eternal life due to His death and resurrection for all. Not only the elect. (Check John 3:16, Rom. 8:23 etc.) But to be part of THE FAMILY one needed to have believed at some stage. Clearly to be called a son, you need to be a family member due to a positional standing???
This is another book from the lordship Salvation guru that brings works and other nonsense to the table and let good people think they will end up in Heaven! The whole chapter of Luke 15 concerns God's forgiveness for sinners, especially believing sinners (the younger brother). This is a parable on growing into maturity as a believer NOT a salvation passage.
Humans are sentenced to hell not for their sins. But, for their unbelief in Jesus as Messiah.
"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." - John 6:47 NASB
 The tale of the prodigal & older son.
I bought the book because I heard the author on the radio on the title. His message on the radio was excellent and I knew I had missed several parts of the message so I wanted to read the whole thing. But the author kinda of lost me with all the big vocabulary and it appeared very scholarly. Since I had several other books to read, I placed this book aside and later gave it to my brother who is more scholarly than I.
A memorable almost insight
MacArthur's book, "A Tale of Two Sons" is a marveloous work offering insight into an often cited but rarely fully comprehended parable. He breaks the book into four parts, an excellent overview, great insight into the Prodigal son, who resembles most of us at some times, excellent insight into the father, which unfortunately does not go far enough in the insights available to orthodox theology, and insight into the older son, who resembles many of us at too many times.
I can strongly recommend this book for any who wish to gain insight into the human condition and the only way out. It can make for uncomfortable feelings though for any who are honest with themselves regarding the choices and actions that we all make and do.
|
|
Our Religious book picks:
|
|
Search the Religious Products Store
LCS Amazon Store 2.5 © 2008
|
|
|