The Prodigal Son - (Father’s Day - 2007)
-Introduction
-Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers of the congregation.
-What an awesome (in the true sense of the word) responsibility it is to be the
spiritual leader in the family - a responsibility assigned to fathers by God.
-Eph 6:4, 1 Cor 11:1
-This is a responsibility that needs to be taken very seriously and carried out with much
diligence.
-Just as I said on Mother’s Day - that it is good to have a day set aside for mothers - it is
also good to have a day set aside for fathers.
-On this Father’s Day, I would like to talk about a particular son - the prodigal son.
-Luke 15:11-32
-The Request of the Youngest Son
-The youngest of two sons went to his dad and requested his portion of his inheritance.
-Deut 21:17 - double portion to the firstborn - 2/3 to oldest son; 1/3 to youngest son
-It seems to me that he doesn’t consult the advice of his father, doesn’t even make a
request of the father but seems to simply issue a demand.
-He felt this inheritance was due him and he wanted it now.
-We do not find here the portrait of a person displaying outstanding character.
-vs 12 - The father divided his inheritance amongst his sons.
-The younger son accepted the inheritance and departed. It seems that the older son
declined his portion at that time.
-The Lowly Condition of the Younger Son
-In quick fashion, the youngest son “took the money and ran.”
-He went to a far country and wasted all that he had received from his father.
-“…he was as far away in character as he was in geographic situation” (Boles, p299)
-ESV - “…he squandered his property in reckless living”
-“Wasted”/”squandered” carries with it the idea of scattering. (Same word in Matt
25:24 - scattered - ESV)
-Vs 14 reinforces the fact that he had spent/squandered everything.
-All he had received is now gone, he is n a far country away from family and now there
is a famine in the land. He’s in trouble.
-vs 15 - He began working for a person in that country feeding pigs.
-Lev 11:7-8 - Pigs were considered unclean according to the Law.
-“Since the swine were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7), to a Jew this was the most
degrading and humiliating task possible” (Lightfoot, pg 118).
-vs 16 - “…he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.” - He desired what
they had. It doesn’t mean he got it but he desired it.
-It is important for us to realize that Jesus’ immediate audience for this parable was the
Pharisees and the scribes - Luke 15:2.
-What Jesus is doing here with the description of the actions and resulting condition of
the prodigal son is painting a despicable and degraded picture in the sight of these Jews.
-It would be hard to obtain a worse image than this youngest son who had reached
rock bottom.
-The Son’s Return & Brother’s Reaction
-When he came to his senses, he decided to return to his father with the hopes of being
taken in - not as a son - but as a hired servant.
-vs 21 - Here we see a different attitude being displayed by this son.
-Of course, we know that the father didn’t take him in as a hired servant. Instead,
he rejoiced, restored him to his place as son and celebrated his safe return.
-Now, the older brother was very angry. This is especially evident when he responds to
the words of his father - vs 29-30.
-In particular, notice vs 30 - “this son of yours” rather than “my brother.”
-Yet, in response, we find very compassionate words from the father.
-The Father
-Now, let’s consider the father in this parable.
-Here is a man who has been generous to his youngest son. He has given him his
inheritance early.
-Yet, the youngest son then took the things that were given to him of his father,
skipped town and wasted all that he had received on foolish things.
-How hard had the father worked to accumulate the things he had? How long had
it taken him? What sacrifices had he made in order to provide for his family?
-Of course, these are questions for which we don’t have any answers. But, now
these things are gone in a flash - wasted.
-Don’t you think this father would have been disappointed? - felt betrayed?, etc.
-Yet, when the younger son returns, he doesn’t have to go looking for his father. His
Father was looking for him.
-He wasn’t looking for his son with the idea of “Just wait until I get my hands on him”
or “I can’t wait to see him again so that I can give him a piece of my mind.”
-He was looking for his son with compassion.
-When he saw his son on the horizon, he ran to him.
-Then, he gives his son the “royal treatment.” He restores him to his place as son,
gives him emblems of such a position and celebrates his return.
-His compassion shines through once again when he speaks to his eldest son.
-Summary and Invitation
-The parable is “The Prodigal Son” but it is actually about the Father.
-In this parable, we can relate in varying degrees to the prodigal son. We make some
foolish mistakes along the way. We waste some of the wonderful things our heavenly
Father has given us.
-Perhaps we can relate to the older brother as well. In this parable it represents the Jewish
leaders who criticized Jesus for his accepting sinners into his company.
-Yet, we should be amazed at the Father - His compassion - and His willingness to take us
back into the fold upon our return to Him.
-So, on this Father’s Day, let’s consider our Heavenly Father and grow in our appreciation
of His characteristics and His compassion for each one of us.
-Every person is important and valuable in the sight of God - the point of each of the
three parables in this chapter.
-So, what about you this morning? Do you have a relationship with the Father? Have you
ran from Him? If you’ll return, He’ll take you back.