3 Sons and the Father - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 - Fourth Sunday in Lent

 

Luke 15:1-3,11-32 NIV

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable:

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

3 Sons and the Father

--- First let’s deal with the common title given to this Parable of Jesus

“The Parable of the Lost Son” --- Sometimes referred to the Prodigal Son

What does Prodigal mean? – As a person – this is one who is wasteful of their money or possessions … so that helps us to understand a bit

Looking at verses 1-2

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

·       Let’s consider the Audience --- Tax Collectors, Sinners, Pharisees and Teachers of the Law (Scribes) --- and of course through the Word… You and I as well

·       In that day the Tax Collectors were sometimes referred to as the Publicans by the Romans.

·       The Tax Collectors and the Sinners would be the unholiest people among the Jewish people – the Tax Collectors had deliberately left the covenantal people of Israel to work for the Roman Govt. and themselves – they were considered, now, outsiders

·       Then we have the Pharisees and the Scribes … in their own eyes, they thought of themselves as being the holiest of people

·       Here we see that Jesus welcomes the Sinners and Tax Collectors – he eats with them

·       Why? – Because Jesus came to set them free from sin --- yes --- Jesus came to set the prisoners of sin free --- more on that later

·       Jesus welcomes the Tax Collectors and the Sinners – Claiming the authority of God to do this – Jesus accepts sinners and outcasts easily – He has shown this all throughout his ministry

·       So --- In the eyes of the Pharisees and Scribes – this easy acceptance is belittling the holiness of God – Jesus is seen in danger of denying the righteousness of God --- Why? – Thes people are NOT God’s Chosen people! --- In the eyes of the Pharisees and the Scribes

·       You see --- this audience – Jesus came to seek and save sinners… turn to Luke 19:10 --- in Jesus own words… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

·       Now let’s deal with Jesus eating with Tax Collectors and Sinners…

·       To eat with sinners --- is to choose them as friends in a way… they are companions

·       What is a companion? Break it down “com” is association with and “panion” is bread --- think Panera

·       Think of it this way – Jesus leaves Church to go to the other side of the tracks to eat with folks who haven’t been to church, maybe ever – He does this, instead of taking the Pastor out for lunch

·       Jesus sees promise in these strange friends that he left church to be with and eat with… And Jesus prays for all these folks on the other side of the tracks – Jesus sees their need and Jesus takes those needs to the Father in prayer

·       But… the Pharisees and the Scribes are also lost – they just went down another road

·       You see… Jesus goes where we sinners are… all of us… Jesus goes to Sinners, Tax Collectors, Pharisees, and the Teachers of the Law … all sinners

·       Yes! God became flesh… seeking us in our sinful lost flesh… God came to both sides of the tracks for the people He loves

·       Flip to John 1:14 --- the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

·       Whew! So, there is my notes on the first 2 verses! --- What meaning and insight God gives us in His Word… Thanks!

Now… let’s dig into the parable

This is a parable of what most people think of as 2 sons --- some say 3 --- more on that later --- and a father

The youngest son is often compared to the Sinners and Tax Collectors --- looking for a Savior

The eldest son is often compared to the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law --- don’t think they have done anything wrong

Let’s look at verses 11-12

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

·       Traditionally the younger son received 1/3 of the inheritance after the father’s death – But it could be given earlier if the father chose to do. This giving out the inheritance early was discouraged by early scripture – especially as recorded in Sirach --- in the Orthodox and Catholic Bibles

·       You weren’t to give away your inheritance before your death as recorded in Sirach 33:20-24 --- keep this in mind while thinking about the actions of the father

·       What’s the legal position? – Property could be disposed of by a will or a gift during one’s lifetime

·       If you look back to the book of Deuteronomy 21:17 – You will find that the eldest son is entitled to 2/3 of the inheritance as compared to the younger son receiving 1/3

Now verses 13-16

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

·       A distant country would have been thought of as Italy, North Africa, Egypt or Babylonia

·       The younger son was not thinking about the father or his brother --- No! --- this was all about himself

·       So, what about these pods? --- They were pods of the carob tree – used for fodder for the animals and food for the really, really poor. They looked like really big and long dried up green beans. Even I wouldn’t want to eat these things!

·       And pigs… they were viewed by Jewish eyes as shameful and unclean creatures

·       To feed pigs was to become like a Gentile --- a nobody

OK--- Moving along to verses 17-20

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

·       I love the beginning of verse 17 --- I highlighted that in my Bible --- I can relate!

·       In Greek it means “Starting to think straight – logical

·       He came to himself when he realized how foolish he had been

·       The youngest son was re-thinking his self-centered plans

·       In this far country, he despised himself

·       He has turned away from God --- but he remembered

·       You see… as we looked at last week … God has plans for us as we walk in the “wilderness” or “far countries” of our lives

·       In the “wilderness” or “far country” we come to our senses

·       AND God leads us – God has a purpose for the wilderness

·       In the wilderness we realize and cry that we are fools and sinners

·       BUT God cries back NO! You are a called Child of God!

·       In the wilderness we come to our senses and turn home to God

·       In the wilderness … come to yourself … turn to home to God!

·       Yes… in the wilderness … the youngest son and you and I… realize that we have sinned against heaven before God

·       In the wilderness this youngest son spoke the truth out loud about himself

·       He saw his sin and confessed to God

·       But look at verse 19 – It’s a cop out! – “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” ---As we turn … we are tempted to let someone else do our thinking and be a copy of the hired servant. No! Own your sin and turn away

·       Look what happens… As the youngest son has taken that one step towards home of sorts … conversion occurs

·       This is conversion – face your sinfulness in the mirror --- speak the truth about yourself – stand up and turn to GO to face God

·       And God runs to greet us in a full welcome of love --- too good to be true it seems

·       A father of that day that ran to meet the son would have been a demeaning act for a parent… but this Father is different

·       The father recognized the son despite the rags, the dejection, the shame, the tears and the sins.

·       God sees his own child and runs to you to meet you --- See how it’s turned personal?

·       God sees his own child and runs to meet that child – God has waited for us to choose to turn back to Him

·       Yes, the father kissed the son… this kissed has a deeper meaning … it’s a tender kiss… a loving kiss… a joyful kiss

Now verses 21-24

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

·       The son confessed to the father

·       The father stops his son’s confession and rejoices!

·       Verse 22 “bring” --- means bring quickly --- the best robe- there is no second best in the gift of the father’s or God’s pardon – the best robe was reserved for distinguished guests on special occasions --- and the shoes or sandals are meant to mean a token of sonship with the father

·       Oh! And the meat! The meat … the fattened calf-is a big deal- it’s not often eaten

·       As we turn to God from our sinfulness --- God is gracious and abundant in forgiveness and love – way so!

·       You see, the focus here is now not on the sons – rather – the father – think of God the Father

·       It goes deep now – real death comes only when the soul is lost – man is dead only when he has lost the love of God and the love of man withing the love of God --- YET --- man is alive when his is found again BY God’s love --- How? --- Man is found only by the Creator’s travel to us – As the father ran to the son – So God runs to us throughout space and time to become flesh and blood in Jesus

Now verses 25-32

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

·       The older brother was his own god

·       The older brother was unpopular in the parable BUT not in society

·       He may be an officer in the church --- a leader of reform --- a “key” citizen --- he may believe others to be inferior or lazy

·       Notice how the elder son hears of the celebration going on for his brother? – He hears of it from a slave – he didn’t check it out for himself

·       How is the grumbling of the elder son like the Pharisees and the Scribes? – They distance themselves from forgiveness

·       How does the father respond? --- He embraces the elder son

·       In gentleness the father tells the son that all he has in his

·       Jesus embraces the Pharisees and Scribes as well

·       The father loves the elder son --- SO --- IF --- the elder son does go to celebrate – he will see NEW relationships with the father and his younger brother

·       So--- what’s the purpose of the Church in this parable? – The Church exists to prosper that God’s love will find the lost

 

Wow! What to make of all this and what does any of this have to do with Lent?

Well God has three sons really

·       2 on earth

·       1 in heaven

·       The younger son of earth forgot his true home

·       The elder son despised his brother and grew hard in pride

·       The son in heaven lived in His Father’s joy

·       But the Father and the Son in heaven felt sad when they thought of the children on earth

·       SO --- The Son from heaven went to the sons on earth, in flesh and blood and walked the paths of the earthly sons so that the Father may not be sad

·       THEN --- the 2 earthly sons killed the Son of God – they killed him on a cross

·       One son would return to God BUT he killed the Father’s Heavenly Son

·       The second son didn’t know how loveless he was until he killed the Father’s Heavenly Son

·       BUT THEN – Jesus rose from the grave

·       The grave was not His prison of death and His great love lived

·       NOW --- both the earthly sons knew that the Father’s Son would always be with them

·       SO --- What now do the earthly sons now do?

·       That’s where we must choose

God cares for us when we go astray. Relive your baptism every day – see your sin – confess your sin and God will raise you up, forgive you and run to you in joy as you turn to God AND follow Jesus every day!

God runs to you in the waters of baptism … God runs to you in the bread and the wine and the body and the blood … God runs to you in the Word as you take and eat and internalize it … God runs to you in all those He gives to you each day to love. Turn to God… before He runs you over.

 Come to Jesus