The Prodigal Sons

The Two Lost Sons and their Loving Father

The Rebellious Son

He is Selfish

Luke 15:12 “12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’

The Younger Son comes to the Father and asks for his share in the estate. Now, the original audience of this story wouldn't have been taken aback by the fact that a son felt as if he deserved a share of his father’s inheritance, this was normal in the first century. This rebellious son could have expected that once his father passed away, he would have recieved 1/3 of all that his father owned. However, what was interesting about this boys demand was that there was one problem…his father wasn't dead yet! Sons didnt get their share of the estate until their Father passed away...

So to demand (and this is a demand, it isnt a request) His father to give him his inheritance, he was essentially to wish that his father was dead...

He was essentially saying to His father, “I dont want you, I just want what’s mine...”

I dont care to have you in my life…I just want the money that is due to me… “You're as good as dead to me…I dont love you…I just love what you can give to me...”

Now , as a Father of 3 Children myself. If one of my kids said this to me, it would absolutely wreck me. I imagine that I would be shocked. I imagine that I would be embarrassed. I imagine that I would be infuriated to some degree. But mostly, I imagine that I would be heart-broken. Sons aren't supposed to say this to their fathers.

This would have been shocking…But what is more shocking is how the father responds:

If you went to the Middle East today…you would find a culture that holds men, especially dads, in very high esteem. In fact, in an ancient Middle Eastern culture, a demand like this would have been fighting words. The original audience would have been expecting this father to say, “Okay Son…I hear you…you want your inheritance...follow me out here behind this wood shed and ill get right to writing you that big check…grab my belt on the way will you I might need it.”

That is what this culture would have been expecting.

But that’s not what this father does, instead…v.12— “He divided his property between them.”

“Property” = “Bios”…the same word we use for Biology…it means “Life.”

So quite literally, this Son is asking His father to tear his life apart…and the father does.

The Father suffers financial loss,

he suffers the loss of his son rejecting him,

he suffers the shame of society…

because he was now the father who’s son disrespected him in the worst way. And instead of the Father beating his son…or rejecting His son…He bore the agony of tearing his life apart for the son. Why? Because he loved him. He was a good Dad. And he loved his son in-spite of what his son did or didn't do.

How many of you fathers in the room are willing to bear the agony of rejection from your son or your daughter? What about you mothers?

Are you willing to love your children in spite of their acceptance?

In spite of their behavior?

What if they reject your love?

What if they wish you dead?

Are you willing to bear the burden of loving wayward children?

I pray that if and when that day comes for me, I will. Because that is how God loved me in my rejection of Him…and it’s how God loved you in-spite of your rejection of him as well.

The Father tears his life apart…he tears himself apart…because he loves his son...

Do you see it already?

Do you see the love of God for you?

God is willing to tear himself apart because he loves you…He is willing to make things harder on Himself…because He loves His Sons and His Daughters. Even when they wish Him dead...

So a few days later, he packs his bags and he runs away, like the child that he is. He moves to a new city far away from his hometown.

Luke 15:13 (ESV)

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.

He wants a new life

New opportunities

A new start.

But he is immature, he is foolish and reckless.

He is a party animal…

And over time he squanders all that he has. He doesn't know how to make ends meet. He doesn't understand how to set a budget…His father just used to give him an allowance...

He is a child who can just happens to be able to shave. He is at the bar ordering rounds of drinks for everyone. He is the life of the party for awhile…but like everyone who goes on a binder…after awhile…the high comes crashing down.

He is living recklessly...

Eventually, he spends it all…he has nothing left. He’s broke.

And simultaneously, a famine comes…this is their version of a economic recession.

Inflation is up...Gas prices are high…jobs opportunities are low…Houses are expensive…and this Son cant afford his mortgage anymore. He cant keep up with the lifestyle that he was used to living. The Bible says the son is “In need...”

He cant provide for himself…because he wasted all his money...

He cant get a job for himself…because no-one hires a party boy...

He cant make ends meet…because he

And so out of pure desperation the boy goes and starts looking for a job...

Luke 15:15 (ESV)

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

“Hired himself out”—the literal wording here is “he glued himself”

The boy was broken…and he was trying to fix himself.

He did it by trying to pull himself up by his boot straps...

And isnt this what we all do when we spiral out of control?

When we see that our lives are broken and falling apart, dont we all try to pick up the pieces and fix ourselves?

So the Rebellious Son goes and gets a job working for a pig farmer...

This is a problem for Jewish boys.

Pigs are unclean animals...

So in his attempt to pull his life back together…he just trades out one sinful life for another...

It gets so bad that he decides that he will just start eating the food the pigs eat...

Luke 15:16 (ESV)

16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

He is Selfish

He is Immature

He is Broke

And Now he is desperate...

The only person that ever loved him was his Father...

So He decides to try to go back...

Luke 15:17–19 ESV

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.” ’

He is thinking that he could never be a Son again…but maybe…just maybe his father will have mercy on him to make him a slave...

The Rejoicing Father

The Father could have responded to his returning son in a lot of different ways:

He could have disowned him...

This is what many people did with their wayward children in the ancient near east. They would just treat them as if they were dead to them.

It is still common in Mid Eastern cultures now...

It is true in our culture as well, it is just less pronounced.

He could have beat him...

Proverbs 22:15 (ESV)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

This is what some parents do today…especially with their words.

He could have had him put to death...

Exodus 21:15 (ESV)

15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Deuteronomy 21:18–21 (ESV)

18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Instead…he just took off running as fast as he could, probably yelling and screaming to the top of his lungs, snot bubble crying, tears just streaming down his face, as he screamed out to the top of his lungs, “MY SON!!! MY SON!!!”

Old men dont run…it’s just that simple.

If you see an old man running, there’s only one thing to do…you take off running with him. If an old man runs, there’s only a couple of options: (1) he has just committed a crime or (2) something or someone is chasing after him. Either way, your options are this…you better stop whatever you're doing and take off running with him. If I look up and see David Smith running, you better believe that I am going to be right behind him. Because whatever is chasing him would probably be fine settling for me...

The Father Runs after His son…unconcerned about the damage it would do to his reputation. Unconcerned about what people think about him…because his son who was lost was returning Home.

The Religious Son

The second son hears whats happening…he hears the party…he hears the laughing and the music and sees dancing…and because he is a good religious boy…He doesnt like whats happening.

Luke 15:25–28 ESV

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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 was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

The Elder Brother is Furious

His younger brother didnt deserve this party…He did

His yonger brother didnt deserve the best robe…He did

His younger brother didnt deserve the family ring…He did

His younger brother deserved

When you think you deserve blessing from God…that’s the sure sign that you dont get it.

So the elder brother in anger…sins...

Luke 15:28–32 (ESV)

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Both of these sons were wrong...

Both wanted what the Father could give them…they didnt want the father....

Which are you...

...The Righteous Son...