Prodigal Son

Introduction

Would you agree that our God is one that is full of surprises. He’s the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But mankind in its limited understanding of God, can surely be surprised by God. Tonight, we will read three parables that that may surprise you.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

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The Audience

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Tax Collectors, Sinners, and Pharisees

I want you notice the audience that was listening. There were tax collectors were those that helped the Romans collect taxes which aided them in their administration to conquer and expand their territory. A lot of times, these tax collectors would collect taxes unjustly for they would take just a little bit more from the people to to put in their own pockets. The sinners who were the immoral, who served idols, commited adultery, were thieves, had occupations that were considered incompatible with scripture… you name it. These are certainly people you wouldn’t want your future children to be hanging around with. Then there are the Pharasees, were considered self righteous hypocrites. They would looked upon other judging them and doing very little to help them. They outcasted the sinners and tax collectors many times. When they had come in the hearing along with the tax collectors and sinners they were grumbling that Christ was wrong in receiving such people!

The Most Outrageous People

The most outrageous people in this group weren’t the sinners, they weren’t even the tax collector… they were the pharasees. Jesus at one time told these group of highly religious hypocrites that they were white washed tombs! () Some of the reason why Christ called called them this is that the people of God the Jews, instead of being taught in the right way by these teacher of the scriptures, they were essentially being oppressed by the Pharisees’ self righteous verdict. They of all the people should have known better! Anyway lets get to the main part of the message. Everyone draws near.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

First, Jesus appeals to the custom of the day. Jesus gave that a man in his day that is in possession of 100 sheep and loses one, he would leave the 99 in the open country and search for the lost one. This is a no-brainer for the crowd, for the 99 or indeed already found safe grazing in the open field. It’s the lost one that isn’t safe, it’s the lost if left wondering far too long will eventual wind up dead. Once He is found by the shepherd he is once again safe. Jesus then make a parallel between earth and heaven that just like that man rejoicing over his lost lamb being found, heaven likewise rejoices more over one lost person becoming a found person then over 99 already safe and sound people.

There are lost sheep in your schools...

The Parable of the Lost Coin

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8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Coin of the Impoverished Woman

The the coin of the woman could have represented two things. First the woman could very likely been impoverished. The coin may have represented a day wage for the woman and like most and although she did not had nine coins left, losing one would mean that the family possibly may not eat.

The Headdress for the Woman Ready to Get Married

Back in those days some women would scrap up enough coins (ten silver drachmas) to make for themselves a headdress. This headdress would have each coin hanging by a string around her head. It symbolized a wedding ring per-say, but the woman or her family made the financial effort to acquire it.

The Point

In either case can you all see see why the woman franticly searched for this coin and rejoiced? First case scenario her family would not go hungry. Or second case scenario she can get married! Again Jesus, gives a parable that is a no brainer for those listening in the crowd, because in either case the they know that any woman would be frantic to find such a coin and be extremely joyful when she has found it! Yet again the only thing that they may have not expected from Jesus is that He again parallels the rejoicing of the woman to the angels of God rejoicing over one sinner who repents.

You know just like that frantic woman searching for her lost coin we need to be seeking the lost and telling them how they can be found (be saved)!

Building Up

Up to this point Christ has been building up for His most heart grabbing parable yet! This next parable I’m sure you’ve all about heard, but please if anything apply your ears to this parable! The day in age it is most shocking of them all.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

English Standard Version Chapter 15

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 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. 13 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. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 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. 21 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.’ 22 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. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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 was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 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. 13 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.

The Heartless Request

Let’s stop here for just a minute. A son asking for his father for his inheritance was a very heartless and shrewd request. He said in effect, “Give me now the part of the estate I will get anyway when you are dead, and let me get out of this.” Or “Dad I want to live my life now, I don’t have the time to wait till your dead to get my money.” This son had no love or respect for his father, he just wanted all the benefits that his inheritance would give him. You know what a man like this does he squanders it.

14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

Gets Whats Coming to Him

He said in effect, ‘Give me now the part of the estate I will get anyway when you are dead, and let me get out of this.’

This part of the parable is where everyone is nodding in agreement probably muttering, “Hah that no good Jewish son got what was coming to him. Ungratefully asking for his fathers money and then squandering. I’m so happy he ended up in this unclean swine farm craving swine food where he belongs!”

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Luke (p. 242). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

The Father’s Compassion

17 “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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’

Really quick what did the son’s attitude just show? Repentance, the knowledge that he was wrong all along and willing to go the other direction.

20 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. 21 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.’ 22 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. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

The Father being the head of his household, the head over all his servants and children was a very respected revered figure in his family! He probably wore a special robe and everything he certainly was not a poor man. For the whole household know that the master son was a disrespectful squandering run away meant that it was probably custom to strike him dead if he ever set foot on his father’s field again. But here is the shock his father was watching for him and felt compassion for his child that he ran after him! And for, his father cover such a distance as fast as he could he would have gird up his cloak exposing his thigh, which would have degraded himself in front of his whole household. If he hadn’t done this one of his servants could have gotten to his son before he had and struck him down killing him! The depths of the fathers love was to run after his son, not accepting his son application to servant, but rather put his best robe on his son, a signate ring on his finger, shoes on his feet, and has the fattened calf killed and cooked up for him! In effect the father was proclaiming this is my son, no is to touch him or treat him like he is a criminal worthy of death, he has finally come to the realization of his error, that all along he was lost and needed to be found. He once was dead but now He is alive!! love Him and that is enough for him to re-mane a son to me!

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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 was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”