Teh Prodigal

LUKE 15:1 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.”

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[b] 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.’[c] 22 But the father said to his servants,[d] ‘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.

INTRO

The Gospel is for the lost. Those that society would consider “the irredeemable”

This will make some grumble. Some will tisk tisk. Just like these pharisees.

in response, JESUS told the parable of the lost son.

THE PRODIGAL

He wasn’t ready for his inheritance.

if you aren’t ready a large amount of money can actually ruin you. Look at lottery winners over the last 20 years or so, most are in poverty, many for the second time.

but he insisted he demanded - wanted it now - instant grat. and his father gave in

Then he immediately left - away from supervision - away from authority / accountability, no duties, no retraint, no budget, no concern for tomorrow - just consuming.

ruled by his appetites, not by God. The God of his belly. What he wanted he took Period.

whatever made him happy. Whatever made him comfortable.

didn’t have a consideration for future.

an unfaithful steward. Joseph was faithful because he stored up for seven years. . . do you see?

The term prodigal means wasteful...

Prov 21:20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.

Prov 29:3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.

Jesus after feeding 5k - pick up the bits that “nothing would be lost”

Paul teaches to make th most of our time/opportunities

Eventually things got so bad the only job he could find - feeding pigs for the gentiles. The bottom of the bottom.

Even worse - he was a slave w/o pay. He was so destitute that he begged for the pigs food.

THE MAIN POINT

Jesus came to save sinners - to seek the lost

Jesus went to a foreign land - the world - to seed out at save the prodigal - US - the poor stewards. The slaves of the serpent.

This is why his ministry is primarily concerned with those types of people.

And he uses this (and other) parables to teach them what he’s really about.

HE CAME TO HIMSELF

repentance - he changed his mind - or rahter, God did.

at rock bottom - by the grace of God - he comes to his senses.

BUT this doesn’t mean that everyone will … rock bottom is a good place - but not the place of hope for everyone.

God moves on whom he moves, and here by his grace he moves on the prodigal.

REPENTANCE is what’s being painted here - and its’ rarely understood.

Catholics translate it “do penance” which is closer to paying restituion - which you should pay restitution… but that’s not all.

LITERAL definition - to change one’s mind - one’s perspective - the framework by which you live your life.

to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”

it’s like waking up - a light comes on - “Oh, what was I thinking?”

insanity - defined - repentance means you stop BECAUSE your mind has been changed.

Did you know that in the Bible, God repents?

THAT DOESN”T MEAN HE SINNED!!! It means he changes his perspective towards Israel - rather than cursing them he blessed them.

When God repents towards us he no longer sees us as his enemy, because of Christ. Jesus died - paid our penalty for us - he now sees us as his child and deals with us as such.

AND WHEN YOU REPENT you no longer have the same perspective towards God. You once thought him an enemy, his will and commands oppressive, so you ran away from them. Either leaving religion altogether or using religion to avoid him and his commands…

but now… you repent - your view of God changes - you no longer look at him as an opressor and his law as a chore, but you say with the psalmist - I DELIGHT in your law.

EVERYONE who is a true Christian has this transformation of their mind - their will - their entire life. It’s really like you wake up.

you can easily identify the pharisees, the religious people, their life never really changes. They just add a little Jesus on top.

SO WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF TRUE REPENTANCE

true repentance bears fruit - you can see it through a transformation of life. the direction changes. they way they thing changes.

real repentnace typically starts with a reality check - you wake up - you see the reality of your sin - and you see who your father really is, his true character.

the prodigal saw his father as the oppressor - the task master - the obstacle in the way of his happiness… but now he sees him for who he is. A kind king, a good ruler.

REPENTANCE IS NOT:

remorse - Judas had remorse, but no repentance.

JUST SAD ABOUT SIN - anyone can be sad about sin

JUST CONFESSION - anybody can do that.

REPENTANCE IS:

future oriented - not just obsessed with the past.

We don’t rub sinners noses in the past, we don’t demand that they just “sit in the tension” of what they’ve done.

That’s wordly repentance - “take a time out and think about what you’ve done.”

True Godly repentnace is in the words of Jesus - “neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more.”

APPLICATION: The pharisees want the prodigals to grovel a bit more first. But Christ is there in joy offering the prodigals grace - go and sin no more!

even when there is restitution to be made, it’s made, and thats that.

He no longer deals with you according to your iniquity.

BRING OUT THE FATTENED CALF AND A RING AND A ROBE!

APPLICATION:

if you’ve found your pig sty and see the forgiveness of the father.

then enjoy it.

don’t let the devil or his people rub your nose in the past. Move forward in JOY.

THIS DOESN”T MEAN sin doesn’t have consequences - the prodigals inheritance is gone. What’s done is done. But his eternal future hope is secured. He no longer has to sit in the tension of his failures and bemoan his poor decisions… he can look forward to a greater future hope.

APPLICATION

consider the father of the prodigal - ready to restore - ready for reconciliation - ready to receive - ready to REJOICE to PARTY

the past is the past. he’s family again. no shame, no guilt, no i told you so.

CLOSING

The scandal is greater than the Pharisees even realize.

The prodigal isn’t just forgiven and given a great future hope and a great restored life now… but he’s given a robe and a ring.

a what? why?

Jesus told another parable about a robe… remember? It was a kings wedding party and only those who received a robe fromt he king were allowed in.

there was one that refused the kings robe - he showed up in his own clothes - he didn’t want the kings name, to be affailiated with him - he was cast out.

Joseph was given a robe - signified authority - this is why his brothers hated him

later he wore Pharaohs robe - then gave robes to his brothers.

Namaan brought robes for Elisha - but Elisha said no. He wore the robes of God and didn’t need some other kings robes.

Mordecai was clothed with the kings robe - was the kings man - had his authority.

IN OTHER WORDS - the robe is a status symbol.The prodigal had filthy tags but was given the robes of the father and the ring.

not just invited as a forgiven lowly sinner - but as a son.

and as a result - an inheritor of a far greater hope.

The establishment is tisktisking - they knew what was goign on here - when Jesus was with these sinners.

“Do we have to share the inheritance with THOSE PEOPLE”

ARE THOSE PEOPLE GOING TO GET ROBES?

Which proved they didn’t know God at all, or the depth of his riches, or his grace.

and in the end - they had their “robes” their inheritance taken from them and GIVEN to the prodigals.

the thief at the cross. the workers in the late day.

all those stories communicate the same message.

The robes are still being handed out.

who are you here?

PHARISEE - PRODIGAL

BOTH need the forgiveness of Christ. and BOTH have the potential to be sons.

BOTH are being sought - entreated - beckoned.