Jesus and the Parables "Lost Sons"

Jesus and the Parables

Treasure

Treasure in Field & Merchant Pearl

“The Kingdom of Heaven has such great value that it is worth giving up everything for it”

Talents

3 men were entrusted

2 men were faithful

1 man was wicked

Jesus was teaching that

He will return

and there is a call to live our lives in a way that Jesus will tell us

“well done good and faithful servant”

Today we are going to study the parable that is often called the prodigal son

Before we unpack this parable please turn with me to...

Luke 15:1–2 (ESV)

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So Jesus tells 3 stories to illustrate his point to these religious leaders

Summarize the first two stories

100 sheep loses 1

A good Shepard leaves the 99 to goes after the one sheep.

When he finds it his friends and neighbors rejoice together.

Jesus closes the story by saying

“there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” Luke 15:7

Second story

Women 10 silver coins and loses one

Searches until she finds its

And when she finds it she celebrates with her fiends and neighbors .

Jesus closes the story by saying

“there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

Luke 15:11–16 (ESV)

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

3 points from Jesus’ story

Reckless living (Youngest Son)

Luke 15:12 (ESV)

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Luke 15:12 (NLT)

12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’

It’s important to understand the severity of this request from this son

Craig Keener states,

To ask one’s father for one’s share of the inheritance early was unheard of in antiquity; in effect, one would thereby say, “Father, I wish you were already dead.” Such a statement would not go over well even today, and in a society stressing obedience to one’s father it would be a serious act of rebellion (Deut 21:18–21) for which the father could have beaten him or worse. (Keener 232)

What adds more of a blow to the Father and other son… (wish you were already dead)

Cash out his money had to sell the property (Wright 187)

Land in family for generations

Shame to the family

Then Honor and Shame Culture

Now Western culture Individualistic

The selfishness of the youngest son is right front in center.

The son knew full well of what kind of consequence his decision would have to his family

but he did it anyway.

He could careless that his actions would cut his family to their core

because he was more interested in pursuing his own pleasures and interest.

So he cashes out his inheritance and goes off to enjoy himself.

Luke 15:13–14 (ESV)

13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

Sin may seem enjoyable for a little while but there is always consequences.

Proverbs 14:16 NLT

16 The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

The youngest son dives head first into living his life to what he thinks is the fullest.

(More freedom we think we have the more chained we become)

But he soon finds out that the pleasures that he is enjoying will not last.

After he spends all that he has,

a huge famine hits the country he is in.

Now this is the part I am sure the listeners loved...

Luke 15:15–16 (ESV)

15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

The hearers of the story would have loved this part

because all the hearers would have saw the youngest son as the villain in the story.

The youngest son spit on his families legacy and shamed his families name

He has left his other brother to work the fields by himself while he went off partying

I am sure the hearers would of thought to themselves at this point “good he has what is cumming to him”

Jesus’ story demonstrates that the younger son has hit absolute rock bottom.

Not only has he lost all his money but he has to go work for a despised gentile

And it gets better for the young son because he is tasked to feed the pigs.

Pigs where a very unclean animal that Jews did not even touch because it would make them unclean.

And as the youngest son feeds the pigs he is so hungry that even the pigs food looks good.

Now the listeners of the story would have liked Jesus to finish the story right here

but Jesus did not stop the story there...

Luke 15:17–24 (ESV)

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

What a beautiful picture of the Father welcoming his son home with open arms.

How many know that sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they come to their senses?

When the youngest son hits rock bottom he comes to his senses and returns home to his father with a repentant heart.

2. Reckless Love (Father)

Even after the son has shown such disrespect to the father and made the father look like a fool in front of the community.

Even after the son has in essence said to his father I wish you were already dead so i could get what is coming to me.

Even after the son has caused so much pain and suffering to the father,

the father runs to his son to embrace him and welcome him home. Amen!

Did the son deserve his fathers love and welcome?

absolutely not!

Yet, the father ran to pursue his son showing his great love for him.

Even all the bad history...

Father wants Pride in his son

William hit a game winning hit.

Father did not experience pride

Ran out to him before he said he was sorry

It should be noted that it was beneath the dignity of an elder Jewish man to run,

but the father’s great love for his son drove him to disregard what others thought as he ran to embrace his son.

The father embraced him with the love only the father could give. (Amen)

The Father in Jesus’ story is obviously a picture of the Heavenly Father

And I think it is so imported to have a revelation of who our Heavenly Father is...

Because when you don’t know the Father and you mess up in life,

you will try get away and hide from the father.

But if you know the father...

and when you know you messed up you say “I need go to dad he will know what to do”

When the youngest son is embraced by his father he say’s...

Luke 15:21b-24

Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

The best robe would have been the fathers robe

the ring would have been the families signet ring

and the sandals would have all signified a new status for the lost son

As all three of these items signified the honor the father was given to his son.

The father throwing an elaborate party for his son was telling the world that this is my son!!!

Dead now Alive

Lost but now Found

I don’t care what he did in the past

Often times we end the story here and don’t think much about the older son

But there is still another son in Jesus’ story.

Luke 15:25–32 (ESV)

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

3. Reckless loss (Oldest Son)

The son has the opportunity to celebrate with his father and with his lost brother,

but refuses to do so because he holds unforgiveness toward his brother.

Older Brothers situation....

Can you understand his anger and resentment?

He holds so much resentment to his younger brother that he even refuses to call him his brother

He tells his father V30 “when this son of yours came”

The older brother hates the fact that he has worked so hard on the farm while his brother went wasted his life with reckless living.

Yet, when his brother returned he gets the party.

I think we call all identify with one of the lost sons in the story

Younger Son (Did everything wrong)

Older Son (Seems to do Everything right)

He Got so busy working on the farm that he forgot to enjoy fellowship with his father

We do that...

The older son’s loss was twofold.

First,

he already missed the joy of being with his father over the years because he was consumed with obligation of the farm instead of relationship with his father.

Second,

he was now missing out on an opportunity to celebrate with his father and lost brother.

Now we must go back to who the story was originally for...

Jesus begins telling these three stories to the the religious leaders who were angry over all these sinners eating with Jesus

Jesus is making the point to the religious leaders of how

they are missing an opportunity to celebrate because all these lost people of Israel are returning home.

First story

Jesus closes the story of the lost sheep by saying

“there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” Luke 15:7

Second story of the 10 silver coins Jesus closes by saying.

“there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

Third story Jesus closes by saying

Luke 15:31–32 (ESV)

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

This time Jesus closes the story differently...

The story ends without a resolve…

Don’t know the oldest sons response

(Challenging the Pharisee’s) (Instead of being angry)

Lost sheep coming home

Close with this...

if you are the lost younger son...

If you are the lost older son