Last week we read about the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. We learned that Jesus is the good shepherd and he will search for us, find us, place us on his shoulders, and bring us home. Like the sheep, who cannot save itself, neither can we.
Then we learned about the lost coin. In this parable, the woman is searching for 1 of 10. She is looking for the lost as a disciple. Jesus has a large flock and searches for and saves them. We, as believers, also haver a job to search for the lost and turn them to Jesus.
Now we read one of the most famous stories in the Bible, the parable of the prodigal son.
Read Luke 15:11-24
11. Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
12. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
The Younger Son Returns.
20. So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
What is something you have wasted a bunch of money on?
Gambling
Baseball cards
Beer
11. Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
12. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
What is the son’s sin? How would their culture magnify this?
It would not be uncommon for the father to divide up his estate before he dies in this time to avoid quarreling kids, but it would be unheard of for the younger son to request it. It would be like the younger son saying “I wish you were dead.” It would be considered extremely disrespectful.
However, this is a good takeaway: But in the father’s gracious actions, he demonstrates a love that grants the younger son the freedom to reject and hurt him, and he gives in to the son’s wishes. He knew this was unwise, but allowed him anyway.
God grants us free will to reject him. Why is this amazing?
Can you have true love w/o the free will to reject?
13. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
Also, even when asserts were divided up early, it was still the kids responsibility to take care of the parent. He would still need these resources to live on. How long will he live? We don’t know. By turning the split into cash, he was neglecting his responsibility.
Rebellious children were taken seriously in this culture at this time.
Distant country – meant outside of the Jewish land. Or with the “dogs” as the jews called the gentiles.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
18. If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him,
19. his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town.
20. They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”
21. Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.
14. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
Famine was common this this time. Further emphasizing the need to save and plan. The father needed this nest egg for a time like this.
Was the famine the boys fault?
no, but not being ready for it was
15. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Is it significant that he is feeding pigs rather than any other animal or any other menial task?
Lev 11:7 – And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.
Deut 14:8 – The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
Isa 65:4 – who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
(God is speaking about offering salvation to the most detesible people.)
Isa 66:17- “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord .
This is where handling pigs ranks among jobs for the jews. Bottom of the bottom.
“No one gave him anything”
Was this a good thing? What about guys on the side of the road?
17. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Right after he received no help, he came to his senses.
So was he a bad dude, or was he a respectful dude? He came to his senses, what does that mean?
In his clear thinking he didn’t think of how to improve conditions in the pigpen. He didn’t blame his father, his brother, his friends, his boss, or the pigs. He recognized his misery without focusing on it, and instead focused on his FATHER
18. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Note, he does not focus on the village, or his home, or his bedroom, but on the father..
Also note, he has a long walk and he is practicing his speech.
Do you think he is trying to “get his story straight?” Or do you think he is repenting?
What does he ask for? He could have “made up a good story”
19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
shows a complete change of thinking. He didn’t think like this before; now he made no attempt to justify or excuse his sin.
Hired servant was below live in slave or servant. – Like a day worker
Look at verse 12 – “give me”
Look at verse 19 – “make me”
Only one brought him joy.
At this time in this culture, it would be assumed that the son would face severe punishment or even banishment for the way he treated his father. The son did not know that the father would accept him, help him, or even not have him killed.
20. So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
He got up and went to his father. The key to repentance. Don’t just think, do.
“Some of you whom I now address have been thinking, and thinking, and thinking, till I fear that you will think yourselves into perdition. May you, by divine grace, be turned from thinking to believing, or else your thoughts will become the undying worm of your torment.” (Spurgeon)
While he was still a long way off – the father did not know what the son would say. He did not know he was contrite, but he did not care. He just wanted him back.
This is also considered a very weak act according to Jewish custom. (For this they quoted a jewish writing, not the Bible) A jewish man had to keep “face” but this act of running to a son would be considered undignified and disgraceful. “A man’s manner of walking tells you what he is” (Sirach 19:30).
What is this jewish, not biblical, passage an example of?
– the extra laws that the pharisees put on the people that just weighed them down. Running to your son is disgraceful? What is the heart of God’s love?
21. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Who does the son acknowledge first in his repentance?
Think of all the time he son put into his prepared speech. The father does not even let him finish. It is not our works, it is God’s grace.
22. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
The father had the right to reject or even kill his son, but he does not.
what is this a parallel to ?
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
This is called mercy
The typical sequence would be for the son to fall down on his knees and request forgiveness. If the father granted this, there would be a set of expectations, and the son would essentially be on probation. There was no certainty he would be allowed to remain.14 Here, though, the father accepts him without reservation. Despite the grave offense, he not only allows him to return, but overwhelmingly and joyfully receives him.
Some of the actions listed above have significance in this culture.
He kissed him – Symbol of forgiveness and reconciliation
The best robe – This would likely be the fathers robe. So the father clothes him. What does this remind you of?
Genesis 3:21. The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Put on a ring –
Sandels on the feet – signifies that he is a free man in the home. The servants did not wear sandals in the home.
All these symbols show that the son was welcomed back into the family even though he did not deserve it.
This is grace. First the father showed mercy by not punishing him, then he give him grace by giving him what he did not earn. Sound familiar?
Just like in the parable of the lost sheep and coin, there is a celebration. The father wanted everyone to know that his son was back. Eating meat at all was symbolic of a celebration. The fatten calf would be reserved for a wedding or something similar. It is thought that this could feed over 100 people.
The banquet would show others that the father had forgiven the son, and that the other people should do the same.
Genesis 50:17. ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
Matthew 6:12. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Wonder that it was like when the son was coming to the father. What was going thru his head? Was he overcome with shame at his actions, sorrow at the hurt he must have caused his father, fear at what kind of reaction he would receive, both from his family and from his village? Did he have enormous regret over his actions, which, together with the shame he bore, would have kept him from coming back if he had not been so desperate?
And what would it have been like to receive his father’s embrace? Perhaps he was confused, maybe astonished, at the unexpected reception. How could he have ever imagined that he would be welcomed back after all he had done, the way he had so completely cut ties with and insulted his father? How overwhelming would it have been to experience not only the acceptance, but also his father’s fervent desire to restore their relationship, his simple and profound joy over his presence? After living in fear and destitution for so long, the son could find refuge in this place of safety and warmth. How could he not have been overcome by his father’s incomprehensible generosity,
What does this sound like when we talk about salvation?
It is just too easy
Parables – John White
Surprised by the Parables – Michelle Lee Barnewall