Introduction
The prodigal son is about the loving Father. A lesson about the love of the heavenly Father.
The loving Father receives the lost son and rejoices. This 3rd parable is not a sheep, not a coin but a lost son. The value is greater. The problem here is amplified too. The older brother will not receive the younger brother. He represents the scribes and the pharisees.
1 – The lost son returning
V12 – he asks for his inheritance early. This would have been very hurtful. V13 the younger son takes his inheritance and leaves home. He wastes his inheritance with wild reckless and loose living. All manor of immoral and unrighteous living. The older son says he was devouring his inheritance with harlots. He returns with nothing, no one. V14 a severe famine. He was in great need. V15 an unnamed citizen puts him to work in the fields (a gentile country) also pigs would have been considered unclean by the jews. A most vivid idea of the degrading condition. Not only shameful but self destructive. V16 He would have gladly fill his stomach with the pods the swine ate. “Gladly” meaning lusting, wanting what the pigs ate. What hope is there in this far away country. This is what happens to every person who turns from God. It crushes pride. Sometimes God brings a sinner to the end of himself so that he can see his need for God. Before He saves a man, He breaks a man. V17 – He came to himself. His madness was driven from him. Its insanity to turn from the loving and Holy Father.
V18 – He has sinned against God. This is the problem of mankind. Psalm 51 “against you only have I sinned against”
V19 – the son has repented and is returning
V20 – His father saw him returning. Daily searching for him. Is there not a parent who waits for a wayward child? The loving father rejoices. This is how we need to see our heavenly Father.
V21 – The son did not even get a chance to finishing his repentance.
V23 – The fattened calf (for very special occasions)
V24 – The son was lost and he was found. And they began to be merry. Our heavenly Father rejoices and calls all of His house to rejoice.
The lamenting son refusing
V25 – The older brother was working in the field – self righteous works. The older brother hears a symphony of music.
V26 – 27 – He is here and welcomed.
V28 – in his anger he would not go in. The father came out to him and pleaded. Close and kind encouragement. V29 – he is self righteous and telling the father all he has done. Saying he never transgressed the law. The older brother had bitter jealousy. “This your son” – bitter contempt toward his father and his brother. He is rebelling against his father.
V31 – tell him that he (the father) has always been with him.
V32 – we should be merry.
He is calling them to change, to repent and to rejoice.
They failed to know the loving Father. The overall question is this – where do we fit? are we the younger son seeing how great a sinner we are and returns to the loving father? Or are we the older brother that cant rejoice in those who repent. Rebelling against the father.
Repent and turn to Christ and you will be forgiven.
Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV) 11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 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, 19 “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 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. 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.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put [it] on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on [his] feet. 23 ‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill [it,] and let us eat and be merry; 24 ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 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 “So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 “So he answered and said to [his] father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 ‘But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 ‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”