The Prodigals
Notes
Transcript
Intro
So good to be back in our building. We are continuing our series through Luke on the story of the prodigal son. I remember preaching this passage 9 years ago in the chapel of the prodigal son in Montreat days after we found out we were pregnant with Christian. Not only personal, but I believe that this passage is one of the most important passages in all of the Bible. Why? It connects the OT to NT and gives a glimpse into the heart of God. What is undoubtedly the point of this story is that repentance is required of everyone.
Main Idea: Repentance is required of everyone in God’s kingdom
The first parables were focused on what was being lost and found. Now, we have a detailed parable that applies directly to us. We are handling a text that most will know.
Luke 15:11-32
Truth #1: Repentance restored the younger son to the father (11-24)
Exp. The title often suggests the story is about the younger son, but the main character is the father. Verse 11. We see parable doesn’t end after the younger son gets back. The younger son we can easily relate to. Verse 12-13. His inheritance was 1/3 of the total value. Reckless living. Squandered. Verse 14. Spent everything. He begins with everything, then nothing. Family, fatherless. Home, homeless. Inheritance, penniless. Ability for feasts, foodless. He falls as far as one can. He hires himself out to feed pigs. Then, he longs to eat what the pigs eat.
This is what living apart from Christ looks like from the vantage point of heaven. - Thabiti Anyabwile
Exp. Verse 17. “Came to himself” is Hebrew expression for repents. Verse 18-19. Practices what his heart feels.
Ill. Different than practicing lying about something you did wrong. Hit my sister in the head with a baseball. The son practices the words of a repentant heart.
Exp. Verse 20. The father running is an example of how much God wants to restore the lost. As the son tries to say his words, the father doesn’t let him finish. Verse 22-24. Robe = he’s probably naked. Ring = symbol of family. Shoes = symbol of not being servant. Fatted calf = He could have killed the son. Instead, let’s celebrate. This hits home more than the lost coin and lost sheep. We feel the joy. That’s the point. It is a celebration worthy of heaven.
Christ - This is why Christ came. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Repentance in Christ restores us back to the father. More on this in a minute.
Truth #2: Repentance revealed the older son’s heart toward the father (25-29)
Exp. The parable is not over. The repentance leads to restoration which leads to a feast. The older son hears the commotion and asked a servant what was going on. Verse 27. The response of the brother does not match the father’s. Verse 28. Forcing his father to come to him because he refused to go in. Now, his heart has been revealed. Main audience at this point is Pharisees. They obviously represent the older brother. Verse 29. Three faults:
He places himself in needing no repentance. Luke 15:7.
Compares himself favorably to his brother.
Expects a reward for faithful service.
Christ - The older son did the right things, but for the wrong reasons. Christ also came for those who do right for wrong reasons. The self-righteous are also in need of repentance. Christ didn’t come to save only those who have obvious outward sins but those who have prideful motivations.
Truth #3: Repentance restates the father’s relationship to his sons (30-32)
Exp. I wanted to leave verse 30 with this section because we see a wedge between the brothers. Verse 30. “Son of yours” not “my brother.” The older brother didn’t want restoration, but judgment. Why is this important? Jesus connects the OT to salvation. Let’s go to Genesis. Tim Keller points out the older brother has a greater inheritance but more responsibility. They would track down younger siblings to restore to family.
Ill. Just like if you would lose a dog, you would search the streets to find it. So, too, would the older sibling.
Exp. Cain and Abel. Ishmael and Isaac. Jacob and Esau. Joseph and his brothers. God chooses the younger brother while giving accounts of poor older brothers. Why talk about this?
Christ - What is Jesus saying to the Pharisees? You are poor older brothers like the older brothers from before. You didn’t go get them and didn’t even celebrate. Christ is the true older brother coming to get his younger brother to restore him back to the father. Not to give us a weak inheritance, but one with Christ.
Exp. Verse 31. The joy of being a son of the father is not for the benefits or your ego. But because you have the father. How is this not enough? The father is restating what should have been obvious. Verse 32. Fitting = necessary. Said this twice.
App. Repent
Repent for you obvious rebellion. Process of repentance in younger brother.
Recognition. I’ve sinned.
Resolution. I’m coming back.
Resignation. Know your place. True repentance is simply seeing yourself in relation to God.
Repent for you internal motivations. We can easily do good so that God may love us, bless us, seen by others, expect celebration. Wrong motivations.
“All that is mine is yours.”
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Conclusion
The parable ends abruptly. We don’t know what the older brother did next. The point was so the Pharisees could decide how they would respond. How will you respond?
