The Three Sons of God

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The trilogy of the lost… Today we will examine the third parable of the lost, The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Understanding the setting… Remember Jesus is speaking to the average religious leaders of the day the Pharisees and the scribes. They are upset with Jesus over His relationship to tax collectors and sinners. They think He should have nothing to do with them.

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.’ ””

The two Sons of Israel

How would the Pharisees and scribes have understood this message delivered by Jesus?.. Too understand what the Jews of Jesus’s day would have received from His message their are two important aspects to be aware of.

Pharisees / Scribes are Jewish… The Tribe of Juda.

The Tribal History of Israel. 12 Tribes, based upon the 12 Sons of Jacob/Israel.

The bible tells us exactly who the two sons are … It is in the context of the 12 Sons, or 12 Tribes of Judah that we learn who the two Sons of the parable are. We can find it in 1 Kings.

The Set up

The promised land of Abraham… One Nation, The nation of Isreal, 12 tribes with distinct boundaries

Ruled by one King at a time... God>Saul>David>Solomon>Rehoboam

A Plea for Mercy

1 Kings 12:1–5 “Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.”

Jeroboam becomes spokesman… The nation of Israel made Jeroboam their spokesman to the new incoming King Rehoboam

Who was Jeroboam?… So who was this guy the nation of Israel chose as their spokesman and why?

1 Ki 11:26–28.26 Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.

Jeroboam the slave master... Jeroboam was a slave master of King Solomon before Solomon passed away.

The Feud begins

1 Ki 12:12–15.12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” 13 And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, 14 he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

No mercy… Rehoboam, the Son of King Solomon, tells the people He will be even harder on them than his Father and ignores the peoples cry.

Connection to Egypt… Do you see the connection here to Israel's time in Egypt as slaves. The Pharoah was unwilling to let Gods people go and put more and more burdens on them when God called them out of Egypt. Here we see the King of the Nation of Israel treating Gods people no better that the Pharoah of Egypt, the nation God rescued them out of.

A House of God Divided

The nation rejected Rehoboam… The people responded in a way Rehoboam did not expect. They rebelled. They even killed the task master Rehoboam sent after them.

1 Kings 12:16–20 “And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents. But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.”

Two Nations are born

Out of this rebellion two Nations are born… The Kingdom of Juda and the Kingdom of Israel

Rehoboam rules The Kingdom of Juda:, which is the tribe of Juda and Benjamin + the Levite priests: and is based in southern Israel in Jerusalem where the temple of God is located.

Jeroboam rules The Kingdom of Israel:, which is the remaining 10 tribes of Israel which is based in Samaria, the northern part of Isreal,

The two sons of the story… These are the two sons of the Story. The Kingdom of Juda, the faithful son who stays with the Father, The Kingdom of Israel, the prodigal Son who leaves the Father to live life the way He chooses.

The wayward Nation of Israel… After the Nation of Israel left they stopped worshipping God exclusively. Jeroboam feared the people would turn back to God and created false Gods, high places, cults and cult prostitutes.

Asherah Poles… At the High places the people worshipped at Asherah poles. Tall poles like the Native American totem poles. Graphic Sexual images. Surrounded by cult prostitutes. The children of the union’s were sacrificed in rituals.

The context of the brothers claim of prostitution… This helps us understand the brothers statement in the parable “But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ The Kingdom of Israel was the unfaithful brother who had left and committed all sorts of sexual sin.

They didn’t just leave, they rejected... So when the Nation of Israel left to install their own king we see they didn’t just leave. They outright rejected everything God called them to and stood for and choose a completely different life.

New King, New Kind of Slavery… So now I want to point out the King the Nation of Israel choose to sit over them as opposed to the one they had. They stepped away from Rehoboam, who laid heavy works on their shoulder, to much to bear, and placed themselves under Jeroboam the slave master turned King. You see the Nation o Israel traded one kind of slavery for another kind. They left the chains of physical bondage they were under to enter into a new kind of bondage. A spiritual kind. Where Rehoboam enslaved their physical bodies Jeroboam, the slave master turned king, would keep them enslaved by making them spiritual slaves. Bound to a false king in their sins with their backs turned to God.

John 8:34–36 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

There is a lesson to be learned there… The king they served under may not have been righteous, but the one they chose apart from God, was far worse. The King they created, the King they installed, the King they served, would be to their destruction.

Break it down further.… Any King, any thing, any person, you allow to have a place of authority in your life where Gods authority belongs will lead to your destruction.

Anything a man sets up as higher than God is called Idolatry.

Exodus 20:3 ““You shall have no other gods before me.”

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

The Israelite’s set a King over them to rule, not the King of God, the King of their making. That choice to turn their backs on God set them up to follow the idols in their lives.

So let me ask you.… In all your ways are you being careful to chose God above your desires? Are you seeking the kingdom of God first? Do you the the Lord your God with all your heart your, soul and you mind?

King Rehoboam was not a good King, but they chose to turn their backs on more than just the bad King, they turned their backs on God. No matter the circumstances, turning your back on Gods is never the answer.

The Nation and the Prodigal Son disown

The nation of Israel said to Rehoboam … We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. The Son of Jesse is a reference to King David, the son of Jesse. The King who God said would never fail to have a descendant to rule the throne.

The prodigal son said… ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them....

The culture of family… The Jewish culture is one of family. Every book in the Bible speaks about families. It’s all about heritage and lineage. It’s about you belonging to the Father before you and your children belonging to you, and their children and son on. And ultimately all of use belonging to the Father in Heaven.

This was an act of finality… The choice to divide the Father’s property before death and leave meant more than just a pay day. It was a kind of disowning. As a jew you were the heritage of your Father. The blessing of the Lord that remains after you depart the world. It was no different than the Nation of Israel rejecting God. It said I’m through with you. I will take all that coming to me and depart the land of my heritage to live like we have no connection at all.

It meant I’m not returning.… In the Jewish culture you didn’t just do this an return later. Our culture would be far more tolerant of this kind of situation than theirs. It was a culture built on honor, respect and family lines. You would not have been expected to return later like the prodigal son did. Once you did this and left you were gone. You were as good as dead. This was a complete severance of family tie to the Father.

The prodigal was a dead Son… This is why the Father refers to the Prodigal Son as dead “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive;

The wealthy family… It’s important to note here the Prodigal Son comes from at least a moderately wealthy family.

Servants: The Father had many servants. The Servants were well all well fed as the Prodigal Son Notes.

Business owner: He owned a business of kind. When the Prodigal Son returns his brother is out in the field with the servants.

The Robe, The ring and The Shoes: When the Son returns he is clothed with a fine robe, a ring and shoes. The poor could not have afforded fine clothing, which were even more a luxury item then. The cost of clothing and food were the biggest parts of yearly wages. The ring is also particularly important. It mean status and authority.

The life of relative ease… So picture this. The Prodigal Son goring up and lacking nothing to speak of. Wealthy enough he needs nothing but not wealthy enough he doesn't have to work. The son of an upper middles class business owner if you will. He has it made. If he continues to work for his father and continues the business when he passes he be comfortable for the rest of his life.

Traded away for the allure of Sin… Yet despite all that he had, much of it that He hadn’t even worked for, most of it would have been the result of his fathers hard work. He decided to trade its all away, including the relationship with his father, brother, and any other family members not mentioned, to pursue a life of reckless living. The life of sin.

The Nation of Israel… This should sound familiar, like the Nation of Israel, the 10 northern tribes, who traded away their relationship to God to pursue their pleasures. 10 of the 12 tribes of people supernaturally delivered from the hands of slavery in Egypt, taken to land not theirs. A land full of good things. The bible called Canaan a land flowing with milk and honey. A place where God would cast out all their enemies and protect them. A place where the God of Heaven would choose for his Prescence to rest in the temple amongst the people He brought their. Only to be traded away to pursue the passions of the flesh. Not much different than Esau when He traded his birthright for a bowl of soup.

Our great blessing.… We live in America. A nation founded under God. We have religious freedom like no other country. We are governed by laws and standards. Each of us free to pursue the delights of our hearts and the dreams of our minds.

Like the Nation of Israel before us and the Prodigal Son … And yet, as a Nation, as a people, even as an individual, we wandered away from the Father at some point, to the land of Sin. Have been given so much we have traded it for so little in return.

Luke 15:13-16 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.

Apologist: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

Before he left on His trip… Do you think before his trip he ever saw himself pursuing his sinful desires to the point was starving? Do you think he had any clue the famine would come? Do you think he ever imagined himself hiring himself out to work as a pig farmer?

Pig Farmer… Jews don't eat pig meat. They don’t even touch pigs. By Gods law before Christ touching or eating pigs made you unclean. Only unbelievers or sinners would raise them, eat them and sell them. Hiring himself out to the pig farmer was not only a last ditch desperate act, it would have been humiliating for any respectable jew.

Godly conviction… The Prodigal Son experiences a moment I call Godly conviction.

“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.” ’

The conviction of God leads men to repentance and life.

2 Co 7:8–10.8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Repentance leads to salvation without regret..., not because the sin was not bad, but because God is so good. Do not get trapped in the loop of shame and guilt. What you have truly given to God, out of a broken heart, one that say I wish I would never have done that thing, and if I could do it all over again I wouldn’t, is Godly repentance. It should not lead you too walk around in shame and guilt but in the freedom of knowing God is so good He has overcome. And you who have Christ in you, the hope of glory, have overcome with Him.

The Prodigal Son returns home… Godly conviction brought about Godly repentance and Godly repentance brought the Prodigal Son right back to where He truly belonged, the Father.

What was the Father’s response… But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

The long wait… Every time the family gathered to eat He would have noticed the empty place the son was supposed to be. Every time the family got together to celebrate He would noticed the absence of the Son who he raised. In the quite spaces of time when life slowed down his mind would have turned to the Son who wasn’t there. Every time he looked at the horizon He would have checked to see if His sons figure was on it. Finally coming home. The Father’s heart longed for the Son He loves.

One day He returned… One day His son’s figure was there. One day His wait was over. One day what he longed for came to pass and the son did return.

The Father didn’t make demands… The Father didn’t demand answer’s, like where have you been. He didn’t ask scold him about the endless days of concern He had for Him. He didn’t make a list of promises the son had to fulfill before He returned. He didn't even say I told you so. He just embraced him in love.

God will not demands answers… I am telling you have have wandered far from the Father it is not too late to come home. The Father will not demand answers before He receives you. Right now He just looking for His lost child.

The Prodigals repentance … The first words out of the Prodigals mouth were repentance “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son”

The Father’s response was forgiveness… The Father response to the Prodigal was forgiveness “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.’

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Come home child, come home. Your Father is merciful and forgiving.

But what If I’m the brother who stayed… What if you have been faithful like Kingdom of Juda, and like the brother who stayed when the Prodigal left?

“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.’ ””

Son you have been with me always… Maybe you have walked with God as long as you can remember. Maybe his ways are the only life you know. Why begrudge your brother like the Pharisees, like the scribes, the Kingdom of Judah passing Judgement in the Kingdom of Israel. Don’t you both have the same Father in Heaven. If your joy is your Father in Heaven, wont your joy also be your Father in Heaven receiving back the child of his great love?

All that is mine is yours… The Father had already doled out the Prodigal Sons inheritance. Everything that was let was literally Sons once the Father passed, it no longer had to be divided with anyone. The idea is this: there is not less for you in your Fathers house because the lost Son has returned. Everything God has had for you has always been yours.

Closing

In this parable are two Sons....

If you read closely and think deeply its actually about a third Son....