Parable of the Prodigal-lesson 14

Parable of the Prodigal-lesson 14 (Lk15:11-32) 2/7/2024

Who?

When you think of the story in Luke 15:11-32, who, what do you think the focus is?

Can you relate with any of the characters?

These parables we have looked at the last few weeks are about kingdom attitudes of kingdom dwellers!

(Introduction) - May not be a bible scholar, or well versed in scripture, but many know of what is called the story of the “Prodigal Son.”

We can relate with the feelings, the emotions of the characters that is put forth in the parable.

If we are honest many of us may have thought of, or gone out like the Prodigal or gotten jealous like the older son, or been like the waiting father for the prodigal to come home.

May we read the parable together, make some general observations and then get into the parable by explanation, application and learning to live out the parable.

(insert the parable: Lk15:11-32)

Luke 15:11–32 NASB95

11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ 20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 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 became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”

Ask the general questions observations of the passage

Background:

As you know the starting material the bible and book by Womack entitled “learning to live the parables.” there are lots of good things we can learn, glean from.

The Parable is complex in aspect, what, who is the focus, but then passionate simplicity woven all through it too

Interesting fact, in the scripture, the scripture does not use the word “prodigal.” In it.

When you think of the word prodigal what do you think it means? - - spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

Jesus in speaking this parable has the wayward sinner in mind, without a doubt in the prodigal son. Remember that Jesus was accused of receiving and eating with sinners.

Jesus would have the older son in mind too as he is under scrutiny of the judgmental Pharisees and scribes

Jesus would also have the waiting, forgiving Father in mind too.

Womack in his book does not call this the parable of the prodigal, but the parable of the lost sons or”redemptive relationships.”

This parable along with the two previous, the lost sheep, the lost coin, deals with that which is lost being found and the celebration that happens after that. The being found, spiritually speaking is the redemption.

Explaining the text

Go back and read (Lk15:1-3) - - - there is no break in the parables, in the teaching that Jesus was giving, but now, who was listening?

Pharisees and scribes (Lk15:2)

Large crowds? (Lk14:25)

This was after the day in the home of a Pharisee on the Sabbath (Lk14:1)

All three of these parables are unique to Luke in their present form and purpose (Womack). “Jesus does include some of the principles of these parables in other contexts of His personal ministry.”

You can see (v.12) there was no holding back from the son by the father, he asked of the father and the father gave.

The Talmud “Jewish oral law” said that the oldest was to receive a double portion (see Deu21:16-18 for more information on this)

We know that the son stooped to defile himself and eat what the pigs eat with the pigs. This would be repulsive to any Jew. - - - keep in mind the audience that Jesus is speaking to (Pharisees, scribes, could be a crowd too).

My favorite verse personally is (Lk15:17) - have someone read it again, maybe from a couple of versions, He came to his senses

When the son returns home (Lk15:20) see what happens

The father saw him a long way off and felt compassion, embraced and kissed him (v.20)

Put a ring on him (restoring to son state, giving authority as a son)

Shoes on his feet (showing a free man not a slave)

Robe on him (covering as a son would be covered)

The older son comes and is angry (v.28)

Why not? He did everything he was supposed to do, he lived right, was faithful, yet the brother wasted everything and he gets a party when he comes back?

Jesus is painting the picture of the older son as a “pouting, jealous brother who feels he has been mistreated.” (Womack).

Makes me think of Jesus teaching on the healthy do not need a doctor, the sick do, the unrighteous do (turn to Mk2:17)

Mark 2:17 NASB95

17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Then we get to the waiting father or you can see the caring father.

Don’t know if you noticed that the father, or implied about the father is used more than the lost son’s

Jesus is really pointing out the fact that both the sons are loved by the father, but both the sons are lost and need to be redeemed.

The father is portrayed as the heavenly father who is the father of mercy and is the giver of forgiveness.

Purpose and application

One parable, several layers to it

The younger son and his view of the father

The older son and his view of the father

The waiting father presents us with a different lesson

First, the younger son sinned with complete knowledge of what he was doing

HE was in willful rebellion.

He asked for fleshly wants, got it and departed.

He spent frivolously; which all would be against the fathers will.

Second, the older son, had as Womack puts it, gone through the motions of obedience and did everything right all along, but he evidently had the wrong attitude about it.

Pharisees, teachers, scribes were well versed legalists paying attention to every tit and tittle of the law, not just the Torah, but also the oral traditions (the Talmud). they had an unforgiving spirit about them

Don’t be too hard a judge on them, we can do the same thing, can’t we if we are honest?

Jesus says forgiveness is a commandment (Mt6:14-15.

Matthew 6:14–15 NASB95

14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

The parable purposes to show two kinds of being lost, or conditions of being lost.

Take the book with you for this and read the two paragraphs from the Lemley’s on pg. 140

Third, the waiting father illustrates the long-suffering heart of God as He forgives the rebellious son yet pleads for understanding from the older son.

The Father never gave up

The Father does not point out the sin, but the repentance and celebrates that

The Father teaches the older son, about both son’s have a place in the fathers heart. It is about redemptive relationships.

May we remember our purpose to be looking, for the lost, always reaching out.

The younger son knew his lost state, knew he needed help. Did not need it pointed out to him.

The older son, thoughts his loyalty was good enough and yet he was lost too!

Learning to live the parable

Have you ever been rebellious toward God? Can you see yourself in the younger son at some time in your life? - I know I can

Ah the feeling of an all loving God who receives us when we come to Him with a heart of repentance.

Even as a Christian we can still rebel against God, we can be the prodigal. The rebellious son was not less loved by the father, the father let him go, suffer, repent and return.

How about have you walked your Christian walk with all diligence, with perseverance to do the next right thing because of your love for God, yet seen others blessed who did not and get jealous? Maybe thought you deserved more praise because you did more things that you deemed praise worthy, yet the celebration comes to others?

Lessons

Some believe that you must “sow your wild oats” before coming to Jesus. . . remember you sow wild oats you get wild oats. You don’t have to do bad, or the wrong things to learn to do right, the good thing.

God can use the prodigal to help bring back other prodigal’s though. God never lets a good opportunity go by that can be used for His purpose and glory.

God will receive the prodigal, a prodigal. He wants the prodigal to come to his senses, and He as the caring father is waiting for you, them to return.

Second, many of us can be like the unforgiving brother.

Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness, 7 times? (Mt18:21) and Jesus answer was an infinite number of times not holding things against the person.

Remember God says forgiveness is a command. (have everyone turn to Mt18:35)

Matthew 18:35 NASB95

35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Howard Marshall in his commentary says this about the older brother “He showed signs of being unforgiving, selfish, jealous, pouty, arrogant and skeptical.” Can we be like that? We need to be careful of that stance.

Remember we need to be ready, willing to accept the lost brother back, forgiving former transgressions and helping them to walk in a manner worthy of repentance.

This parable is about redemptive relationships. The church needs to be a fellowship, a place of redemption and for redemption a hospital for sinners. A spiritual hospital for the spiritually sick!

May we fulfill what it says in Gal6:1-2.

Galatians 6:1–2 NASB95

1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Help restore

Restore gently

Carry each others burdens fulfilling the law of Christ

What is the law of Christ? - - - it is love

The waiting father looks for us wherever we are to come to Him. If you have come to your senses in an area of your life that is outside of the fathers will, come to him today, do not delay.

(Prayer) (Exit)