A Prodigal Parable

Luke 15:1-2 (ESV)
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Video – The calling of Matthew

Luke 15:3-10 (ESV)

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ ¹⁰ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:11-32 (ESV)
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² 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. 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. ¹⁴ And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 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. ¹⁶ And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs 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 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.”’ ²⁰ 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. ²¹ 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.’ ²² 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. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:11-12 (ESV)
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² 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.

We are always heading for trouble when we value things more than people, pleasure more than responsibility and the foreign more than the blessings of home.

Luke 12:15 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

• The division of inheritance.
• He says “give me my share”
• What is he communicating to his father?
• Do we sometimes have a similar attitude?
• We are co-heirs with Christ! Of what?
• God will give us what we want!
• He knows the outcome.
• To whom does the balance of his property belong?
• Why does the younger son want his inheritance?

Luke 15:13 (ESV)

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 quickly heads out. He wastes no time!
• Are you quick to spend earthly treasure on personal pleasure? Consider the cost!
• Why do you gather ALL you have?
• A far off country exists in our hearts first!
• Why did he go so far?
• Are you squandering the Father’s gifts?
• The Parable of the Talents.
• Are you living recklessly or purposefully?
• Reckless living leads to famines!
• He was far from his father, with no community or accountability; he had burnt all his relational bridges and was living recklessly.

Luke 15:14 (ESV)

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

• Abraham faced famines when he wandered off.
• Are you inviting famines into your life?
• Why would our good God author famines?
• Have you realized yet that this world can’t satisfy?
• Paul shared the secret to contentment.
• Are you seeking greener grass?

Luke 15:15-16 (ESV)

So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

• How hungry do you have to be to eat pig slop?
• It was his lack that gave him an appetite!

Luke 15:17 (ESV)

“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!

• Often need and lack brings us to our senses.
• Have you come to your senses?

Luke 15:18-19 (ESV)

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 didn’t just say he was going to do something.
• His humiliation had resulted in some humility.
• What did he know about his father’s character?
• He repents!!! He acknowledges that he has sinned.
• He is asking for forgiveness. 
• Suggesting the conditions of his punishment.
• Have you ever felt unworthy because of sin?
• A saint can’t lose their sonship just fellowship.
• Make me a servant!
• Let’s never forget the father’s response here!

Luke 15:20 (ESV)

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.

• He truly repented.
• Repentance takes courage and confidence in our Father’s response and resume.
• “While he was still a long way off”
• Do you know that our heavenly Father sees you?
• Are you grateful for our Father’s compassion?

Psalm 145:8-9 (NIV)
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. ⁹ The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

• The father ran to the prodigal son!
• The father was looking for the son to come home.
• What a warm welcome! 

Luke 15:21-22 (ESV)

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.’ ²² 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.

• We were never worthy in the first place.
• He never even got to finish his speech.
• The father’s heart was on display!
• He reminded and restored him as his son.
• He gave him back his inheritance!

Luke 15:23-24 (ESV)

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

• This is our spiritual condition before we come home to the Father!
• In Christ we are ALIVE and FOUND!
• Next Jesus focuses in on the Pharisee and scribes.

Luke 15:25-32 (ESV)

“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, 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.’”

Invitation