Wednesday, August 28, 2024

The Parables of Jesus Series

Tonight’s Study – Session 31: The Parable of the Lost Son

Introduction: In the Parable of the Lost Son, Jesus is teaching not so much about the conversion of a sinner, but rather the restoration of a believer into the fellowship with the heavenly Father. We see in this story the graciousness of the father overshadowing the sinfulness of the son, as it is the memory of the father’s goodness that brings the lost son to repentance (*Romans 2:4). The Parable of the Lost Son is also known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is one of the longest and most detailed parables. And unlike most parables it has more than one lesson.

*Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

The Parable of the Lost Son is found only in the Gospel of Luke.

Let’s take a Look at Our Passage Where this Parable is Found

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 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. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. “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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

“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. 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.’ “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. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

 So, he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and pleaded with him. 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. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ “And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 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.’”

(Luke 15:11-32)

A Verse by Verse Look at the Parable of the Lost Son

Verse 11

Jesus sets the scene for the Parable of Lost Son in saying that “A certain man had two sons.”

The younger son displayed repentance, and the older son displayed pride and arrogance.

The Younger Son

Verse 12

The younger son asks his father for his share of the estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would receive according to Deuteronomy 21:17. In other words, the younger son asked for 1/3 of the estate. Though it was perfectly within his rights to ask, it was not a very loving thing to do, as it implied that he wished his father dead. Instead of rebuking his son, the father patiently grants him his request. This is a picture of God letting a sinner go his way (Deuteronomy 30:19). This act pictures all sinners (related to God by creation), who waste their potential privileges and refuse any relationship with Him, choosing instead a life of sinful self–indulgence.

Verse 13

The prodigal son evidently took his share in liquid assets, and left, abandoning his father, and heading into a life of iniquity.

Prodigal living – Not merely wasteful extravagance, but also wanton immorality. The Greek word for “prodigal” means “dissolute” and conveys the idea of an utterly debauched lifestyle.

Verse 14

The prodigal son spends all his money and then a famine hits the “Far country” he went to. The grass always seems greener on the other side. The prodigal son soon found out that it wasn’t. The way of the righteous can be hard enough, the way of the transgressor can be even harder.

Good understanding giveth favour: But the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15 KJV)

Verse 15

The prodigal son aligns himself with a “citizen” of that country who most like didn’t worship the God of the Jews. Feeding swine (pigs) was the worst sort of degradation imaginable for Jesus’ Jewish audience; swine were the worst sort of unclean animals.

Verse 16

Carob pods were used to feed pigs but were virtually indigestible for humans. The only reason he did not eat the same food the pigs did is because he could not. The latter part of this verse says, and no one gave him anything. Apparently, once his wealth was gone, so were his friends. Even the unclean animals were better off than he was at that point.

The prodigal son toiling in the pig pen is a picture of the lost sinner or a rebellious Christian who has returned to a life of sin.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:19-22)

Verse 17

The prodigal son came to his senses. His realization is reflective of the sinner’s discovery that, apart from God, there is no hope. When a sinner “comes to his senses.” Repentance follows, along with a longing to return to fellowship with God.

Verse 18

The son devises a plan of action, and it shows that his repentance was genuine. In the prodigal son saying, “I have sinned against heaven,” he is acknowledging that every sin is ultimately against God.

Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. (Psalm 51:4)

Verse 19

The prodigal son is willing to give up his rights as a son and take the position of a servant. He realizes he has no right to a blessing from his father, and he has nothing to offer his father except a life of service. Returning home, the prodigal son is prepared to fall at his father’s feet and beg for mercy.

In the same way, a repentant sinner coming to God is keenly aware of his own spiritual poverty. Laying aside all pride and feelings of entitlement, he brings nothing of value with him. The sinner’s only thought is to cast himself at the mercy of God and beg for a position of servitude.

The father

Verse 20

The father was waiting for his son to return. In eagerness of his son’s return, the father ran when he saw his son. This is the magnificent attribute of God that sets Him apart from all the false gods invented by men and demons. He is not indifferent or hostile, but a savior by nature, longing to see sinners repent and rejoicing when they do.

Verse 21

The prodigal son displayed true contrition in his heart but didn’t get to finish his rehearsed words of repentance before the father interrupts to grant forgiveness in verse 22. This pictures God’s eagerness to forgive.

Verse 22

 Without a single word of rebuke for the past, the father pours out his love for the son, and expresses his joy that what was lost has been found. Each of the father’s gifts said something unique about the acceptance of the son.

Robe – Reserved for the guest of honor.

Ring – A symbol of authority.

Sandals – These were not usually worn by slaves, and therefore signified his full restoration to sonship.

Verse 23

The fatted calf – Reserved only for the most special of occasions – a sacrifice or a feast of great celebration. All this symbolizes the lavishness of salvation’s blessings.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Verse 24

The father acknowledges the prodigal son’s new standing and the celebration to mark it.

The Older Son

Verse 25

The older son symbolizes the Pharisee, the hypocritical religious person, who stays close to the place of the Father (the temple) but has no sense of sin, no real love for the Father (so as to share in His joy), and no interest in repenting sinners.

Verses 26-28

The older brother, upon hearing that the music and dancing were for his brother who returned home, became angry and would not go in the house to be a part of the celebration. Even after his father pleaded with him to come in, he refused. His anger parallels the complaining done by the Pharisees in Luke 15:2 – And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Verses 29

I never transgressed your commandment at any time – Unlikely given the older son’s obvious contempt for his father, shown by his refusal to participate in the father’s great joy. This statement reveals the ultimate problem with all religious hypocrites. They will not recognize their sin and repent.

You never gave me a young goat – All those years of service to the father appear to have been motivated too much by concern for what he could get for himself. This son’s self-righteous behavior was more socially acceptable than the younger brother’s debauchery, but it was equally dishonoring to the father – and called for repentance.

Verse 30

This son of yours – An expression of deep contempt (“this tax collector” in Like 18:11). The older brother could not bring himself to refer to him as “my brother.”

Verse 31

The inheritance had already been distributed (v.12). Everything the father had was literally in the older son’s possession. Yet the older son was begrudging even the love the father showed the prodigal son. The Pharisees and scribes had early access to all the riches of God’s truth. They spent their lives dealing with Scripture and public worship – but they never really possessed any of the treasures enjoyed by the repentant sinner.

Verse 32

There is much rejoicing when a sinner who was in the far country comes home to the Father.

Conclusion: The Parable of the lost son (prodigal son) is one of Scriptures most beautiful pictures of God’s grace. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are all prodigals in that we have ran from God, selfishly squandered our resources, and, to some degree, wallowed in sin. But God is ready to forgive. He will save the contrite, not by works but by His grace through faith (Ephesians 2:9; Romans 9:16; Psalm 51:5). That is the core message of the Parable of the Lost Son.

Next Week, Session 32 – The Parable of the Unjust Steward