Jerico represents earth (below heaven) where [We] get attacked. Christ is the Samritan. The Priest and the Levite are unable to help – they represent the Law of Moses. See an article in the February Ensign in 2007.
look at TPJS 240-241, 276-277
Ezra Taft Benson Oct 1985
On Parables – what is the question that caused Christ to give the parable? what is the context?
The context of Prodigal Son is two other parables.
Sheep are lost in ignorance, money is lost through neglect (by others), prodigal is lost through his own choices.
Prodigal son is a denunciation of self-righteousness. It was given in response to the murmuring of the Pharasees.
The real prodigal was the older son.
The lost son liquidated half the family living – this was a permanent damage to his family.
His occupation (feeding the pigs) was contrary to the law of Moses.
See Maxwell talk from October 2000 (and Scott talk from 2000)
Satan wants to confuse the doctrine of the creation (who we are) with the doctrine of the fall (what condition we are in)
The father threw a party to show his son that who he was did not change merely because of the condition which he now realized that he was in.
In OT times there were bondsmen (slaves) and then servants (subject to bondsmen) and then hired servants (temporary workers – below servants)
See Holland talk from April 2002
God does not compare his children to each other.