The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

“A man’s worse difficulties begin when he is able to do just as he likes.” – Thomas Huxley

Prodigal is just another way of saying “lavish” “extravagant” “squandering” or “wasteful”

Read Passage:

This is Jesus speaking to a large group consisting of both “tax collectors and sinners” as well as Pharisees (vs. 15:1-2)
As I read this story, reflect upon the different characters and how they are portrayed in your life.

NASB Translation

-------------------------------------------Rebellion----------------------------------------------------

11 And He said, “A man had two sons.

12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.

The younger son (probably around 18 years of age) initiated the division of the estate. This showed blatant disregard for his father’s authority as head of the household. (It was the equivalent of saying “Father, I wish you were dead.”

13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

Think of this passage in context. According to Mosaic Law, pigs were unclean animals (unclean meaning they couldn’t be used for sacrifices or even eaten). To protect themselves Jews wouldn’t even touch pigs. For a Jew to stoop to feeding pigs was a great humiliation but for this man to eat food that the pigs had touched, was to be degraded beyond belief. This man officially hit rock bottom.

---------------------------------------------Repentance----------------------------------------------

17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

The word “heaven” is another word for “God.”

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’

He was willing to be a servant. He didn’t return to his father with a list of demands, just a sincerely repentant heart.

20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

God’s love is constant and patient and welcoming. He will search for us and give us opportunities to respond, but he will not force us to come to him. Like the father in this story, God patiently waits for us to come to our senses.
During these times in this culture, old men do not run. Why did the father run? In addition to the love the father had for his lost son, he knew the son had brought disgrace to the family and village. According to Deut 21:18-21 he should have been stoned to death by the village. By running out to meet him the village couldn’t have stoned the son without hitting the father. Very symbolic of what Jesus did on the cross for us.

21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

The most important verse in the entire story.

-------------------------------------------Forgiveness------------------------------------------------

22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

The ring was a sign of sonship and the robe was evidence of his acceptance back into the family (servants didn’t wear rings or expensive garments).
The Father doesn’t even let him finish. He interrupts him, forgives him, and orders the celebration to begin.

23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

Reference to the banquet is symbolic of the kingdom of heaven (cf. 14:15-24). Therefore, sinners hearing the story would understand that they could enter the kingdom because they were coming to God. They understood they needed to return to him and be forgiven by him.

24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

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 became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

The older brother is the example of the Pharisee. Pharisee’s didn’t like the idea that people outside of their nation as well as outcasts and sinners could go to heaven. Yet like the father, Jesus spent time with and didn’t exclude the Pharisee’s. The message is an invitation to all.

29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

The older son felt he was right with the father because of his works. He served his father not out of love but out of a desire for reward. One more example that works don’t get you into heaven.

30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

The father forgave because he was filled with love. The son refused to forgive because he was bitter about the injustice of it all. His resentment rendered him just as lost to the father’s love as his younger brother had been.

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Could refer to the religious leaders privileged position as members of God’s chosen People.

32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’

Analogous to every lost sinner who comes to faith in Jesus Christ.
The father (i.e. God) eagerly welcomes his sinning child home, yet the Pharisee who are so critical that they have no love for their fellow countrymen are thus unable to celebrate repentance in others.
Note that the final response of the older son is never mentioned. This shows that the Pharisee can still repent if he is willing.

This passage has three main themes we will be looking at:

Rebellion

The younger son, like many who are rebellious and immature wanted to be free to live as he pleased and he had to hit bottom before he came to his senses. It often takes great sorrow and tragedy to cause people to look to the only one who can help them. Are you trying to live life your own way, selfishly pushing aside any responsibility or commitment that gets in your way?
The younger brother coveted the things of the world and completely ignored the things money can’t buy, like relationships.
The younger brother thought he would “find himself” out in the world, but he only ended up losing himself. Sin promises freedom but only brings slavery. It promises successes but brings failure, it promises life, but delivers death. When God is left out of our lives, enjoyment becomes enslavement.

Repentance

To repent means “to change one’s mind”
If the son would have thought only about himself (i.e. his hunger, his homesickness, or his loneliness) he would have been despaired, instead he looked at his painful circumstances as a way to see his father in a new way and this brought him hope (If his father was so good to his servants, maybe he would forgive his own son).
Stopping at this point would only entail regret or remorse. True repentance requires an action. A changing of behavior or a mindset. In this case, the younger boy had to get up and go, and approach his father. Probably the most difficult thing he could have done. (Much more difficult in their culture than ours. We have a nuclear family mentality and they didn’t.)
How do we know the prodigal son’s repentance was real and not fake?

He came to his senses (vs. 17)
His pride didn’t keep him from humbling himself and asking for mercy (vs. 18)
He is willing to confess his sin to his father (vs. 18, 21)
He understands the consequences of his actions and is willing to pay the price of losing his sonship. (vs. 19, 21)
He appeals to grace. That is, he has nothing to offer his father. Only his father’s grace for a position as a servant. (vs. 19)
He took action. (vs. 20)

Verse 21

Forgiveness

Verse 22 – Father doesn’t even let him finish

The Father doesn’t even let him finish. He interrupts him, forgives him, and orders the celebration to begin.
This is the picture of our Heavenly Father toward sinners who repent. He is rich in his mercy and grace and great in his love toward them. (Eph 2:1-10, Psalm 103:10-14). All of which is possible because of his sacrifice on the cross.

Had the father dealt with the son according to the law, there would have been a funeral instead of a feast.
Don’t let anything keep you from forgiving others. If you are refusing to forgive people you are missing a wonderful opportunity to experience joy and share it with others. Make your joy grow; forgive somebody who has hurt you.

Questions

Doesn’t it seem ironic that the younger son is in a place to experience God’s love more than his brother who hadn’t sinned?
Does every person have to play the prodigal at some point?
What role in this story do you see yourself in? The father (the forgiving one), the older son (the Christian Pharisee), or the younger son (the sinner)?
Does this mean that all sins can be forgiven someone and anyone can go to heaven? Even a Hitler?

Yes

Is the older brother the villain in this story?
What kind of relationship would you say the older son thought that he and his father had? Was it based on love or duty?

How does this correlate with the core of Christianity?

Christianity is based on love. Works are a natural byproduct of that love. Works alone will never get you anywhere with God.

The Prodigal Jesus Christ

He was lost (v. 24)	I am the way
He was ignorant (v. 17)	I am the truth
He was dead (v. 24)	I am the life