The Prodigal’s Father

A. This is one of the greatest fathers in the Bible. He was chosen by Jesus to illustrate the Heavenly Father.

1. He must then be the ideal earthly father to study.

B. He was a father of two sons who were prodigal for a time.

1. The younger was prodigal in choosing the pleasures of sin.

2. The older was prodigal in choosing pride of self.

C. Because the father was what he was, the prodigal became what he should be.

1. The younger son returning and the older in decision.

2. What kind of father was he?

He Was an Approachable Father (12-18)

Luke 15:12–18 NKJV

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine 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 bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

A. The text would seem to give some family history.

1. Seems that the mother of the boys had died. We’re not sure. She may have simply not been relevant to Jesus’ story.

2. Perhaps at the birth of the youngest son, we don’t know.

3. Perhaps this man had stood at a grave with his two boys.

4. The text also indicates wealth (servants)

B. The young son’s dreams: The far country; what was it like?

1. Some might have slipped off in the night and ran away.

2. Some might have asked another to intercede.

3. This one feels free to come right to his father: “Father...”

C. Our Heavenly Father is approachable. “Come to Him as you are.”

D. The far country… Riotous living.

1. Dreamed of a great task, but found great temptation.

2. Dreamed of adventure, but instead found agony.

3. Dreamed of prestige, but instead found poverty.

4. Dreamed of romance, but instead found rags.

5. Dreamed of happiness, but instead found himself feeding the hogs.

E. This Father was approachable even from the pigpen: “I will arise and go to my father”.

A Father Who in His Son’s Mind was Associated with Heaven (18)

Luke 15:18 NKJV

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

A. “I have sinned against heaven and before you.”

B. When he thought of heaven, he thought of his father.

C. When he thought of his father, he thought of heaven.

D. He could not be reminded of God without remembering his father.

1. His father surely was a man who walked with God.

2. What an impression! His son couldn’t escape it.

3. The father at prayer, in devotions, in reverent walk.

4. His father was godly. How about you?

A Father Who Was Affectionate (20)

Luke 15:20 NKJV

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

A. “Ran and fell on his neck and kissed him”.

B. It’s nonsense that manhood calls for coldness.

C. The look of love

1. The father had been watching for him.

2. He ran to meet him. Spurgeon: “out of breath but not out of love”.

D. His son was returning

1. The time away made no difference.

2. The smell of the swine made no difference.

3. The rags made no difference…Nor did the empty pockets.

E. His son is home, that’s all that matters.

A Father Who was Assuring to Both His Sons (21, 31)

Luke 15:21 NKJV

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

Luke 15:31 NKJV

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

A. “Bring forth the best robe”

B. Father should take the problems as God the Father takes them.

C. Your failures have not moved you away from His love. RETURN!

Conclusion:

A. Come now to the Heavenly Father

B. Are you like Him?