Prodigal Son and His Father
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· 12 viewsOne of the many lessons from this parable is the relationship between us, as foolish sons, and our Father, who welcomes us back to Him, when we are humbled and return.
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I) Son desires independence – v.12-13a
I) Son desires independence – v.12-13a
One of greatest temptations for those live under a democracy is to desire to do things our own way -
Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Israel rejected Moses as leader of God – – then decided to go into the land anyway
– rejected Moses as leader of God – vs.40‑45 – then decided to go into the land anyway – – rejected Jehovah as king
And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.
Later they rejected Jehovah as their King –
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
As the creature, we are not our own masters – ;
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,
that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
God allows us to choose – – free moral agency (freedom to act as we choose)
According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
Although it pains God to see us go away –
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
II) Son indulges the flesh – v.13b
II) Son indulges the flesh – v.13b
Result of life without restraint – – this is the normal result of undisciplined children –
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.
We must not seek the satisfy the flesh – ;
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Moses would not follow the desires of the flesh –
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Material goods have no guarantee – ;
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Except that we cannot take them with us –
for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
And that they will corrupt us, if we love them – ;
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
III) Son looks for help – vs.15-19
III) Son looks for help – vs.15-19
First, he looks for help among the aliens, and ends up in further sin (swine were unclean to Jews) – – like Ahaz
At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. For the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried away captives. And the Philistines had made raids on the cities in the Shephelah and the Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages. And they settled there. For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made Judah act sinfully and had been very unfaithful to the Lord. So Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the Lord and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.
In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
He comes to realize they were no help to him –
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
We must come to Jesus as our only recourse – ;
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
He then remembered the love and generosity of his father – ;
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
We love because he first loved us.
IV) Father forgives and honors son – vs.20-24
IV) Father forgives and honors son – vs.20-24
Was looking for him since he left – ; – God is patiently waiting for us –
that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Compassionate towards him – ;
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Forgave him – ; – in mercy – ;
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
Honored him – ; – as sons in the kingdom –
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Concl: One of the many lessons of this story is the relationship between son and father. It tells us much of the relationship we have, or can have, with our Father.