The Forgiving Father (Part 2)

Intro: Imagine that you are sitting down listening to Jesus. As he teaches these parables, you look around and notice at least 3 different groups that are present: There are the disciples who accompany Jesus in all his travels as he spreads news of the arriving kingdom. Many people are coming to Jesus for mercy and to hear his teaching, including tax-collectors and sinners (15:1-2) who are religious and social outsiders and outcasts, but Jesus receives them. And you have Pharisees & scribes (experts in the Mosaic law) who are present to hear Jesus, with the main goal of observing him to try and catch him in something that he might say or do, in order to discredit him with this ever-growing following.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son in particular, there is application for everyone present. From the response of the forgiving father, representing the character of God in his merciful receptivity and acceptance of the repentant sinner, there is comfort and motivation for those who know their sin and their need, and are seeing Jesus as someone who accepts and offers them access to God in a new way.

For the disciple, this is ongoing apprenticeship with Jesus, in which they will learn that Jesus is himself the very means to God, and that he is also the model of God’s character and therefore the example that we must learn to follow.

It is this third group that receives special attention in the latter part of the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son. In fact, the group for which he initiates these three parables of the lost that are found, restoring of repentant sinners, is actually the religious elite who think it is wrong for him to associate himself with tax-collectors and other (more obvious) sinners. Here we find condemnation and correction of the Pharisaical bad attitude, and the risk of missing out on the free offer of forgiveness through Jesus. Yet the kind invitation from the Father to repent and join the celebration stands. How will the self-righteous respond?

Luke 15:11–32 ESV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 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. 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. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “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! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 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. 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.’ 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. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 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. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

[Previously On “The Prodigal Son”]

Just as the first two parables in this trio of parables emphasize how God initiates the search for repentant sinner and subsequent joy in heaven when they are found, so too the parable of the Prodigal Son (or The Forgiving Father) teaches How God Receives Repentant Sinners, and that Celebration, Not Condemnation Is the Right Response of his household too.

Last time we walked through…

The Younger Son’s Demand & Departure, His Life of Sin & Suffering, and His Realization & Repentance

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The Father’s Gracious Forgiveness, Unconditional Acceptance, & Joy

(of the repentant sinner)

“In turning to God, one gains total acceptance and joyful reception into God’s family.” (Bock, 1308) And certainly not due to any merit of one’s own, but by repentance and acknowledgment that restoration can only come at the mercy of God. Additionally, we understand, although it is not a feature of this particular parable, that God has accomplished all the work necessary through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sin, and rising again in power to offer spiritual life to those who come to God through faith in Jesus.

And just like the previous two parables, a key feature is the joy and celebration at the restoration of what was lost.

Now we come to part of the parable that focuses more particularly on condemning and correcting the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees that disapproves of the forgiving generosity that actually arises from the very heart of God. The Father’s unconditional acceptance and joy at repentant sinners is in direct contrast the perspective and practice of Jewish religious leadership.

First we learn of what takes place when…

The Elder Son Returns (vv. 25-27)

Returning from work where he was doing his duty. Finding that there is a party going on, of which he previously knew nothing, out of natural curiosity he asks about the revelling inside the house.

Straightforward answer from the servant: Your brother has come home, so your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate bc of his delight in his safe return.

fattened calf - Wealthy families would have this reserved for extremely special occasions, such as son reaching adulthood or a child getting married. Not only this, but that much meat could feed the whole village, who were undoubtedly invited to this feast. This would have been quite the party.

To the father this return of his son was more than worthy of such celebration. The missing son was presumed dead, so to have him back is like receiving him back from the dead, alive again. And they thought they had lost him forever, but now he is found.

But as we see in the next verses, the older brother has quite a different reaction.

The Elder Son’s Anger & The Father’s Urging (v. 28)

In self-righteous anger, he refuses to go in. This tells me that he already knows that his father would want him to go in and celebrate with them, but he will not.

The Father again takes the initiative to come out to the son and plead with him to come in. The verb tense tells us that he attempts to persuade him more than once. But his urging falls on deaf ears.

- ironic reversal - the one was the insider has become the outsider

The Elder Son’s Protest: Where Is Justice? (vv. 29-30)

self-focused comparison to his brother - He has been the dutiful son. Where is justice?

-Missing the point that God’s action is not deserved but gracious. God displays kindness to the repentant.

Rebukes his father as being unfaithful and unfair

Further irony: the “obedient son” is here being disobedient to his father

Emotional and dramatic

The Father’s Response: Gentle Correction (vv. 31-32)

Reminding him of his privileged position and opportunity that remains unchanged. God’s kindness to those repenting of more sensational sin does not negate his availability to the one who has been privileged to be blessed by the father, and to remain closer, not having strayed so far.

My son is also your brother - cannot distance himself

It is right to celebrate repentance and restoration. If the father reconciles and rejoices, there is no room for to refuse to forgive and rejoice as well.

When something like a resurrection has occurred, when the lost is found, it is no time for questions about fairness. It is a time for joy.

Conclusion: [summary]

The elder brother, who apparently does his duty, was laboring in the field in fact at the time everything else is going on. Returning from working, he is curious about the cause of the celebration. But hearing about the younger brother’s return, and the father’s celebration and acceptance with joy, his response is anger. His insistence on staying away from the celebration now makes the apparent insider an outsider.

The father takes initiative and comes out to his eldest son. He repeatedly attempts to persuade the son to join the celebration. But the elder son is unmoved by explanations and remains focused on himself. In his sense of fairness, of justice, he takes issue with his father’s forgiveness and acceptance of the formerly profligate younger brother. In his refusal to host his brother alongside his father, he is in fact acting in disobedience, and at the same time accusing his father of being unfaithful and unfair toward him. The roles have becomes reversed. The insider has become the outsider.

Open-ended question lingers: How will the self-righteous respond now?

The Invitation Stands - Repent & Return, Join the Celebration

Let’s review the multiple layers of application.

For the repentant sinner, this parable is comfort. If you will realize the depth of your sin and that you are unable to do anything about the situation you are in, but will then turn to God from your sin and self-effort, relying completely on his mercy, he will receive you with joy. As Jesus has also been teaching, faith in God must come on God’s own terms. And as Jesus himself reveals God, and Jesus himself became the sacrifice for sin and power of resurrection life, so it is through faith in Jesus that one turns from sin to plead to God for mercy. Save me through Jesus.

Or those who think they don’t need God, pretend he doesn’t exist, bc their life of sin and selfishness seems to be succeeding for now? Sooner or later, it will run out. Even if that self-absorbed life should last right to death’s door, what will they do when they stand before God, having only everything this world had to offer but nothing that God has offered. Will God receive them into his presence? No. … But God will, and he does, he receive the one who turns from that life and in repentance goes to God to be everything that this life cannot fulfill.

But what about those who think they are closer to God because of their adherence to religious principle and practice? What if they stick their noses up to this grace that is so free because Jesus did everything needed and God so freely grants forgiveness and restoration. The Father’s affectionate appeal to the elder son to join the celebration implies that Jesus is still extending invitation to the Pharisees to accept the good news. They too have opportunity to repent of disobedience to God in their self-righteousness and to turn in faith to Jesus.

For the disciples listening in and watching all that Jesus says and does, he is the model for how we are to help those who need God, just as we ourselves did and do. We do not need to participate in their lifestyles in order to connect with them, but we can and we must extend the offer of something better. Separation from sin to grow in the holiness of our father? Yes. But separation from sinners, the very ones who are just as we were? No. To be like Jesus is to extend mercy to those who are suffering the consequences of their sin and offer them God’s forgiveness if they will repent and turn in faith to Jesus. And to be like Jesus is to hold the self-righteous to a higher level of accountability, the perfect character of God… to make every effort to help them see that they too are in desperate need and must repent and turn to God. They must come to God on his terms, to receive his unmerited grace offered through the person and work of Jesus.

Let’s pray.

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