While Jesus was teaching the peple all the publicans & sinners drew near to hear him, and the Pharisees & Scribes murmured saying “this man receiveth sinners & eateth with them.” This is the key word which unlocks the parable of the prodigal son. It was given to annser the murmurings & qustionings. of the Saducees & Pharisees who were querying finding fault & worthy to know saying how is it that this man as great as he pretends to be, eats with publicans & sinners. Jesus was not put to it so but he could have found something to illustrate his subject if he had disigned it for a nation or nations; but he did not, it was for men in an individual capacity, and all straining on this point is a bubble.— “This man receiveth Sinners & eateth with them” And he spoke this parable unto them, what men of you having an hundred sheep (Luke 15. 4 &c <​5, 6, 7​>.) repenting <​repentance​>— The hundred sheep represent a 100 Saducees & Pharisees, <​as though Jesus had said,​> If you Pharisees & Saducees, are in the sheep fold, I have no mission for you. I am sent to look up sheep that are lost, And when I have found <​it​> him I will carry <​back​> it home <​up​> & make joy in heaven. This represents hunting after a few individuals, or one poor publican, which the Pharisees & Sadcees despised. Jesus He also gave them the parable of the woman and her 10 pieces of silver, & how she lost one and searching diligently found it again, which gave more joy among the pries[t]s & n[e]ighbors than the 9 which were not lost. like I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of god over one sinner that repenteth more than over 99 90 & 9 just persons that are so righteous they will be damn’d any how, you cannot save them. [1/4 page blank] [p. 13[a]]