Two Lost Sons
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Opening Language: How does a person communicate the Gospel, and the extent of God’s love. How do you describe something so immeasurable and wonderful. The Apostle Paul in scriptures tried to use argumentation to make his case clear. Jesus however often used stories. Stories have a way of capturing the human imagination. It’s why we love our movies and our novels, because there is something about the characters, that even if the setting of the story is far removed, we can relate in some way.
Context: Today we come to what is the most famous and most remembered story that Jesus ever told, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. But I actually believe that while that title is helpful, and tells a part of this story, it is an inaccurate title. Because this story is actually about two sons, and in fact the full lesson of the Parable of Prodigal Son is only understood if we fully understand the dynamics of both sons. This parable of Christ’s is full of details that are easy to miss. And so what we are going to do, is walk through the details carefully, so that we don’t miss anything. And then we’re going to draw out a few lessons.
Understanding the Story
Understanding the Story
This story can be neatly divided into three acts, if you will. Act 1, the wretchedness of the Younger Son. Act 2, the compassion of the Father. Act 3, the wretchedness of the Older Son. But to fully understand this story we have to backup to the beginning of chapter 15.
THE SETUP
Like any good story, we have a setting.
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.”
There are essentially two groups that have drawn close to Jesus. The first are the “tax collectors and sinners. These people were despised by the religious establishment in Israel at the time. But here, they are “drawing near” to Jesus. And in the crowd are also the Pharisees and the scribes. These two groups represent the religious establishment in Israel at the time. And we’re told that they were “grumbling” about the way Jesus spent time with such lowly people.
Two Parables: Then Jesus proceeds to tell two short parables that are very similar. The first is of a man with one lost sheep, who leaves the 99 other sheep to go and find the lost one. The second parable is about a woman who loses a coin, but searches for that coin and ultimately finds it and rejoices. The lesson to take away from these parables is repeated at the end of both of these parables.
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Those two parables are the setup for this mixed crowd of sinners and pharisees. And you can just imagine how they would be receiving those two parables. The Pharisees would be nodding their head thinking “Yes, those sinners and those tax collectors need to repent, and what rejoicing there will be when they do.” And the tax collectors are standing there thinking, “I need to get my life in order and get right with God.”
Transition: Then Jesus begins the third and final parable, what we know as the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
SCENE 1: THE WRETCHED YOUNGER SON
Let us begin by reading Scene 1 (verses 11-16)
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.
Wealthy Father Inheritance: As the story begins we are told that a man had two sons. The younger, being full of pomp, and arrogance, and pride, comes to his father asks for his share of the inheritance. This was a wildly inappropriate and hurtful gesture to his father. Nevertheless the Father “divides the inheritance” between the two brothers. So he doesn’t just give part of the inheritance to the younger son, but the older son gets his inheritance as well. And in that day, the older son would have had twice the inheritance and it would have included the property. The older son not getting the property, would have received many goods and forms of wealth that could have travelled with him wherever he went.
Squandered / Famine: Well that younger son goes to a faraway landand squanders all his wealth on wreckless living. We are not told the details of what he did and how he did it. But he suddenly found himself with nothing, very far away from his home. And then a famine arose, so that there was very little food anywhere to be had. Perhaps in a time of economic prosperity, this young son from a wealthy father could have found a way to eek by. But with a famine, when everyone’s purses are getting a little tighter, he falls into despair.
Pigs: He hires himself out to a man from that town and is sent to tend to his pigs. Now for a young Hebrew boy this is reaching new levels of low. Not only was herding considered somewhat of a lower prestigious job, for the lower classes. But pigs, according to Hebrew dietary laws, were unclean. So this young man, not only has sunk into the lowest social class, but he has made himself ceremonially unclean, and would not be permitted in religious circles at that time, even if he tried. And verse 16 cements our understanding of the horrible nature of his situation “no one gave him anything.”
Pharisees Thoughts: Now recall the crowd that Jesus is speaking this story to. It is a mixed crowd of tax collectors and sinners on the one side, and Pharisees and Scribes on the other. What would each of these groups be thinking at this point in the story. The Pharisees would be thinking, “Those sinners over there, are just like that young son, squanderers all of em. Their hardships are exactly what they deserve.” And what might the tax collectors and the sinners be feeling. I suppose they would be feeling the heavy weight of the eyes and the smirks of the Pharisees and Scribes. Perhaps of the shame of that younger son, would be running through their veins. Perhaps the loneliness of that younger son would be running their veins. Perhaps the feeling that they just don’t belong, of that younger son, would be running through their veins.
The Sons Last Thought: And this scene ends, with an insight into the mind of this prodigal son. In verse 17, in his total depravity, in his shame, he remembers his Father. And he thinks to himself, “Even the servants in my father’s house have it far better than me right now. Here’s what I’ll do, I’ll go home, and cast myself at his feet, and beg. After all I have no shame left to lose.” And I’ll say this,
Luke 15:18–19 “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.”
What do we notice in his language. This man has come to the end of himself. He is not going to return with any sense of ownership, or pride. He is ready to confess his sin, and to simply cast himself on the mercy of his father, and hope that maybe the father will find it in himself to take him on as a servant. He has no higher expectations. The one thing he knows is that the father owes him nothing.
Scene 1 closes with the Prodigal Son deciding to go home.
SCENE II: THE COMPASSIONATE FATHER
Scene 2 begins in verse 20, and tells of the overwhelming compassion of the Father. We read this scene in verses 20-24.
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.
Five Actions Before Son Speaks: This boy, this son, may have been expecting a lot things upon returning to his home, but this reception I am certain he was not expecting. The father takes five actions before the son can ever even get a word in.
Saw: First, the father “saw” the son. The way is written, we are given the idea that the Father had been searching the hills in the distance regularly, hoping that the Son would return.
Compassion: Second, his first affection is that of compassion. It is not anger, or resentment, or payback, or “let’s see what he’s done.” It’s an overwhelming sense of deep love and cherishing of his boy.
Ran: And he ran to his son. He wouldn’t wait until the son made it down the drive. He took an action that was beneath any older man of that day. Sons ran to their fathers, not the other way round. But this father, overwhelmed by compassion, runs to his son. Who cares what the neighbors say!
Emraced: He embraced him. He wrapped his arms around him in a sign of union, in a sign of warmth, and affection, and belonging. We can only imagine the fervor with which he hugged his son. I imagine he lifted him off the ground and spun him around like he was a little boy again.
Kissed: Then this father kisses his son. This is a symbol of sonship.
Imagine the Son’s Thoughts: And we can only imagine the wonder of that young man as he stood, stinking, penniless, unkept, wrapped in the ferocity of his father’s love. He must have felt utterly undone. I imagine in that moment, his understanding of reality was being torn. This is not what he had earned. This is not what he expected. Maybe there was even a sense in his son’s heart that his father was making him uncomfortable, like this level of affection beneath the greatness of his Dad. I imagine tears streaming down his face carving lines in the dirt beneath his eyes.
Son Speaks: The son is able to get out half of his prepared speech, before the father interrupts him. He was going to say, “I’m unworthy to be called your son, treat me as one of your hired servants.” He gets through, “I’m unworthy to be called your son” and the father’s not hearing any of it.
Father’s Instructions: The father calls his servants, and says “Bring quickly.” That is the first word out of the father’s mouth. There is no process for paying back the debt. There is time to hear the story and work through the details. There is nothing else to do. Again, five more instructions for the servants.
Best Robe: “Bring the best robe.” There are some storytelling layers with this. First of all the best robe would have been reserved for the older brother. But rank means nothing now. But secondly, there would have been some Old Testament memories about Jacob and his son Joseph, whom he gave a wonderfully colored robe, of whom the older brothers were jealous.
Ring: Second, he got a ring, and placed the ring on his finger. The ring is a symbol of wealth. He is restored.
Shoes: Third, he’s given shoes. The Dad looks down at his son’s feet, and sees the blisters from his long walk home without shoes, and says bring him the slippers.
The Fattened Calf: Fourth, they are instructe to kill the fattened calf and to prepare a feast with it. The calf as well would have been the brother’s property, technically.
Celebrate: Fifth and finally, the father calls for a celebration. Why?
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Review: At the end of scene, we are not quite sure how to feel about all this. The father’s generosity makes us uncomfortable, deliberately. The father’s display of anabashed affection for his son, throwing caution to the wind, pouring undeserved grace on this prodigal, doesn’t quite match the real world we all live in. We can imagine the Pharisees and Scribes who were listening starting to feel uncomfortable with this story. And we can imagine the sinners and the tax collectors, who easily identified with the younger son, wondering where Jesus is going with this story.
To many the story ends there, but there is a third scene, and the thrid scene holds the keys to understanding.
SCENE III: THE WRETCHED OLDER SON
The third scene opens with the older son catching wind of what has taken place.
“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.’ ”
Draws Near: He “draws near to the house from the field where he was working. There is an irony in this language. The younger son had gone “far away” but here the younger son has been nearby the entire time.
Angry: When the servant explains what has taken place, the first emotion of this older son is “anger.” This is a clear comparison to the first reaction of the father which was compassion. This older son is full of rage that the Father would welcome his no good brother back, from who knows where. He’s so angry and so bitter, he won’t go into the celebration, and he makes his father come out to entreat him
Six Details in His Response: There are six details in his speech to his father that tell us everything we need to know about where Jesus is going with this.
No “Father”: First, his speech to father begins with the word, “Look.” If you compare to the younger son, he began his speech to his father, “Father.” This is highlighting something for us. This older brother is supposedly the model son, the one who stayed and worked the land. But he is clearly far more relationally distant from the Father, than the younger son.
“All these years”: Second, he says “all these years I have served.” Well that is real rich coming from a guy who was just given his inheritance while the Dad was still alive. He’s working land that he personally owns. He’s making it sound like he’s been slaving for his Dad. This outburst is revealign some very longstanding resentment in this older son’s heart.
“I never disobeyed”: Third, he says “I never disobeyed your commands.” See, that phrase is now getting into the basis of his relationship with his dad and how he understands his dad’s love. This older son believes that the Dad’s love was based on his obedience. He’s a rulekeeper. And he’s done a pretty good job. But he has completely misunderstood the heart of the father.
“Celebrate with my friends”: Fourth he says to his Dad, how his Dad has never given him a young goat to “celebrate with his friends.” There in the barn is a party being thrown, and at the center of that party is the Dad, with his son, and all the household servant around celebrating. And the older son on the outside wishin he could have a party with his friends. His Dad is not part of his ideal guest list. See he has no real love for his Dad. His relationship with his Dad is transactional.
“This son of yours”: And then he goes further, and he says “when this son of yours came.” Notice how he doesn’t refer to him as “his brother.” In effect he’s denying that they are brothers. He not only has shown that he doesn’t really love the dad. But he’s shown that he doesn’t love the brother either.
Prostitutes: Sixth and finally, he accuses the brother of “devouring your property with prostitutes.” Now the younger brother did waste his inheritance. That is true. But we were never told of any prostitutes. And, the older brother has not spoken with the younger brother yet. So how wold he know whether the inheritance on prostitutes. This has led many commentators to say that what is coming out of the older brother at this moment are his own imaginations. He’s followed the rules, but secretly he’s thought about prostitutes, what that might be like. And now in this outburst, his hidden thoughts get said out loud.
The Father’s Response: The father, with a wise look in his eyes, looks deep into his older son’s eyes and says,
It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Notice the words, “your brother.” In these last words of the Father to the son, the father is hinting that of the two brothers, it is the older brother that is far more lost than the younger brother ever was.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Now, what lessons do we take away from this parable for our Christian faith and encouragement. I think we can learn two deep lessons about the Christian faith from each of the three main characters in this story.
THE YOUNGER SON
First, what do we learn from the younger son?
The Truth of our Condition: This younger son represents every person alive. His physical situation is representative of our spiritual situation before God. While his situation is extremely overt and easy to see how sinful and arrogant he had been towards father, we have all done the same to God. We have not just turned our back on God but we spit in his face, we ran away from him, we spoiled his good gifts on our own pride and selfish desires. We tried to become our own gods and make our own rules. Our spiritual condition, being as it is, is that we are without hope. In doctrinal terms, this is called Total Depravity. No person could ever save themselves from this spiritual condition.
The Posture of True Repentance: Second, we learn from this younger son the posture of true repentance. This son did not just casually apologize and expect anything from his father. He came to the end of himself. His expectations when he returned to the Father, were not to be welcomed back with open arms, but simply to cast himself upon the mercy of the Father and hope for something more than what he deserved. This is the posture that is required to Christ. No person can come to Christ with a sense of their own worth, and how much they have to offer God. No person can come to God and say, I have earned anything other than judgment from you. We must come having realized our reality as broken, spiritually destitute, and utterly dependent on God’s mercy alone to rescue us.
THE FATHER
Second, what do we learn from the Father?
God’s Love is Ferocious: From the Father in this story we learn that God’s love is ferocious. God’s love is like a tidal wave. When it is poured down upon a man, he can no more resist that love that he can hold back the waters of the wave. He is certain to be caught up in it and taken wherever that love leads him. It is a kind of love that is beyond our human capacity to really understand. If you do understand it, it makes you feel uncomfortable. This father behaved as a father ought not behave, in order to love his son. He ran to him. He embraced that rebel. He kissed that dirty thieving child of his. And our God, has behaved in a way that many would say is unbecoming of a good God, in order to love us. For God the Son acted in humility when took on flesh. He acted in humility when he served the least of these. And he acted in a way that to this day causes many to scratch their heads in wonder, when he wilingly embraced the cross in order to love us. His love is ferocious. The father in this story scanned the hills. But our God has leapt over the hills, and come to us, when we could not come to him. This is utterly other-worldly love.
God’s Love is Not Hindered by Our Sin: Second, from the father we learn that God’s love is not hindered by our sin in the slightest. This son was a waster. He treated his father poorly. He squandered the family wealth. He was a smear on the family name. None of that meant a thing when the Father decided to embrace his son, and kiss him, and put a ring on his finger. There is no depth of depravity you can ever descend to that our God cannot lift out of. There is no sin so deep that you can commit, that our God cannot forgive you. This is the Gospel. Your sin might be deep, but if you will cast yourself at the foot of the cross, before you can even get the words out in confession, he has already forgiven you by grace through faith in Christ. Do you see the wonder of the Christian gospel?
THE OLDER SON
Third, what do we learn from the older son? From this older son we have much to learn. This older son clearly represents the Pharisees, and at the end of this story we are left wondering whether or not this older son ever figured it out. We learn two lessons.
How Easy It Is To Base Our Own Status Off Our Works: First, we learn how easy it is to base our status off of our works. This older son thought that because he was more put together outwardly than his younger brother, that he had earned more favor with the father. This makes sense if you only have earthly eyes. But that Father knew the hearts of both of these sons. And in this story, the true lost son, is the son who never left, who believed that his relationship with father was transactional. That son knew nothing of grace. He represents the Pharisees who love rules for the sake of religion, but do not really love God. And how easy it is to turn our Christianity into rules of outward behavior, and have very little real love of God. He shows us that we must guard against the Pharisaical tendency of forgetting that Christianity is about a deep love of God, that wants Christ at the table above every other guest. That is the flame we want to foster in our lives.
How Difficult It Is for Pharisees to Practice & Celebrate Grace: But secondly we learn how difficult it is for Pharisees to practice and experientially practice grace, both with themselves and with others. This older son’s brother was dead and was now alive, and yet he had nothing but anger in his heart. His whole heart had turned rancid and bitter. Because his entire framework was “I’m better than him.” His whole identity was “At least I’m not as sinful as him.” And as Christians this is a trap that we not only fall into, but it is a trap that can very well rob many so called Christians of ever truly understanding grace and therefore every really knowing God. Do you see, is following God’s law good? Yes of course! Is choosing obedience to God over disobedience something God delights and something that will reap wonderful benefits in your life from? Yes! But here is the danger. The danger is that we might slip into an obedience-based righteousness, and actually begin to believe that we are more loved by God because of our obedience! No, a wretch like me is loved by God because of Christ’s obedience! Any righteousness in my life, is Christ’s righteousness shining in and through me. And if we believe that, experientially in our heart, oh how it changes the way we look at prodigals. O how it changes the way we extend grace to others.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Church, this parable, is perhaps the most famous parable Christ ever gave, for a reason. It captures the essence of the Gospel with such beauty. Some of your stories may relate closer to the younger prodigal, and others might relate a bit more to the older brother. But both brothers shared the same situation. They were both lost. And at the end of this story, only one is found. I beseech you, fall at the feet of Christ. Cast your worries and your sins and your mistakes at his merciful feet. His love is greater than your sin.
