PARABLES OF JESUS - THE PRODIGAL SONS

We are taking a 25 week walk through the parables of Jesus. In weeks 10 and 11 we looked 2 back-to-back parables that deal with a great banquet being served. It is the Sabbath, in a Pharisee’s home and Jesus heals a man and then Jesus looks at how people via for seats at the table. Pride being the root of all sin we saw that it creates (1) ambitions and desires which oppose God’s will, (2) attitudes which control our lives, (3) affections for “things” not people. Last week we looked at the meal itself and the invitations the banquet host gave and the invitations God gives us – He invites us to salvation, to serve, to surrender and to sacrifice and that when we give God excuses, we actually reject, refuse, beg off, and avoid God.

This week we look at another of the most famous parables of Jesus. Like the Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son is even known amongst non-believers. Today’s sermon title if you noticed has one slight change, today we will be looking at the prodigal SONS not son.

So as we being let us pray!

This parable was originally called the lost son and follows the parable of the lost sheep and then the lost coin. By the wording in Luke it would seem Jesus taught all three at the same time.

Luke 15:1-3 – Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: Lost sheep and it is found and he rejoices

Then v8 says “or what woman” so Jesus continued v10 – Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” and now we have verse 11 “And he said…”

THE PRODIGAL SONS

Luke 15:11–32 – And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 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. 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. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “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! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 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. 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.’ 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. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 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. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

In this parable, Jesus emphasized the importance of a lost soul returning to the heavenly Father. He dealt with several important areas: (1) Rebellion—the young son rebelling against the father. (2) Riotous living of the son—living in sin never satisfies. (3) Repentance—the son saw his mistake and repented. (4) Restoration—the father restored the runaway son. (5) Rejection—the son who stayed home became angry at the love shown by the father to the prodigal son.

I. The Selfish Son—vv. 11–12

A. Sons—v. 11. The father has two sons. – Jesus could have said A man had A SON – so from the beginning we see that Jesus was going to talk about both prodigal sons – the older son is a participant from the beginning

B. Selfishness—v. 12. The younger son wanted his share of the inheritance.

Think of the selfishness – dad I don’t want to wait until you die – I am young, hip and I wanna have fun – give me my share of what you're worth – about 1/3 of the estate’s worth

II. The Sinful Son—vv. 13–14

A. Wasting—v. 13. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there wasted all his money on parties and immoral living, wild, foolish, reckless”—LB.

He gathered all he owned – he wanted nothing to tie him to home, to family – lifted anchor and left

To a distant country – where his father would not come for him and try to convince him to come back – far away

Squandered his wealth – had fun – did not invest, did not create a revenue source, never thinking he would run out of it

B. Want—v. 14. “About the time his money was gone a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve”—LB. Sow in sin, and you will reap in sorrow—

Galatians 6:7–8 – Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

At time his money ran out – so did a severe famine – not only did he have nothing left – even if he did there was nothing to buy – any food left would have been priced high

Parents isn’t it amazing how kids think money just grows on trees – but when adults and leave – they then realize all you as parents had to do to provide food, clothing, shelter etc.

Famine creates very little jobs – not many ways to earn an income

III. The Sorrowing Son—vv. 15–16

A. Humility—v. 15. The rich son became poor, and worked for a farmer, feeding pigs.

As a Jew – he hit rock bottom – “skid row” – nothing could be lower than pig feeder

Acts 10:28 – And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Leviticus 11:7-8 (also Deuteronomy 14:8) – And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

Isn’t is amazing when we are desperate what we will resort to

B. Hunger—v. 16. He was hungry—“… and no man gave unto him.” With his money gone, his friends were gone! The ungodly friends did not come to his rescue in time of need.

To want to eat what the unclean swine ate was the lowest of deprivation

Carob pods

No one gave him anything to eat – not even the gentile owner of the pigs – scrounging for something to eat – famine – nothing -

IV. The Sensible Son—vv. 17–19

A. Remembering—v. 17. The son “came to himself.” In other words, “He came to his senses.” He was hungry; while at home his father had plenty. God meets all our needs—

Came to his senses – Hebrew phrase for repentance – he repented in his heart

He realized that even those not related to his father – his father’s servants had more than enough more than they needed – had some to spare even – there was an abundance

God wants to meet our needs – He has the ability to do so

Philippians 4:19 – And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

B. Resolution—v. 18. He decided to leave the pig pen and return home. Follow God, and He will care for you—

Psalm 37:24-25 – though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

He recognized his what he did not what he lost – he was wrong

He sinned not only against his dad but God as well

Ezra 9:5b-6– I… spread out my hands to the Lord my God, saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.

C. Resolved—v. 19. The son would say to his father, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”

He recognizes what he did wrong

He realizes he is not worthy to be included in the family’s home and gatherings

He has no claim on the family business

Realizes a dad like his deserves a son better than he was

Since I am no longer a son – can I please be hired as a worker

V. The Sympathy Shown—vv. 20–24

Notice the beginning of v20 – And he arose and came to his father.

Not returned home

Not returned to his village

Not returned to his family

He ROSE and went to his FATHER!

A. Compassion—v. 20. The father ran to meet him.

Ever ask, “How could the father see him so far off?”

Every day he was looking for him!

The father ran to meet him –

This was undignified – (explain to run – show ankles etc.) – children ran – not grown men (in today’s terms – a grown man in only his boxers running down main street with people shopping, eating, drinking coffee etc.)

His eagerness for his lost son to return

Christ invites us to come—

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

v. 21. The son confessed his mistakes.

He could not finish – he had been rehearsing this the entire trip – he knew what he was gonna say

But dad interrupts

Fell on his neck – intimate – a kiss to show forgiveness and restoration

He calls his servant – get my boy the best robe (not what he may have left behind)

put it on him as well as a ring for his finger to show what family he belongs to and has authority as a son to make decisions,

get him shoes – no son of mine travels barefoot servants and poor went barefoot

oh by the way – kill the fattened calf – only for special occasions

God forgives and forgets—full acceptance and restoration

Psalm 103:2-5 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:11-13 – For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

VI. The Stubborn Son—vv. 25–32

A. Rejoicing—v. 25. The lost son has come home.

B. Request—v. 26. The older son – also a prodigal – heard the celebration and inquired of asked the reason for the celebration.

C. Report—v. 27. Simply stated, the lost son has come home.

D. Rebellion—vv. 28–32. The older son became bitter and jealous and angry. The father lovingly explained the joy of reinstating a lost son.

I never disobeyed you – how realistic is that?

This son of yours – not even my brother – this son of yours devoured your wealth with prostitutes – how did he know – he is judging and making assumptions

Look at me – look what I did – not grateful for what the father has provided for him

Younger son didn’t throw the party – didn’t invite people

The proud and self-righteous always feel they deserve more – not even a goat for me and my friends

This older Prodigal wanted to celebrate without the dad – only with his friends

His heart was the same as his younger brother - Bitterness is sin.

Rejoice when a sinner repents. Regardless of a person’s past life, God has forgiven and forgotten his sin. There is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents—Luke 15:10. If a person wastes his life, don’t be critical. Show God’s love and compassion toward him.

When you give your life to Christ – you are like the younger son when he returned – fully reinstated to right relationship with the Father – forgiven and fully restored – not partially – fully!

Jesus never brings the story to a close – how did the younger brother live out his life? How did the older respond? How did he live afterwards?

He leaves these questions for us to answer – who are we in the story? How are we responding? How are we living out our life, our relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit?