The Prodigal Son

March 5, 2023 Background Scripture: Luke 15:11 - 32 Lesson Passage: Luke 15:11 - 24 Luke 15 is always an interesting study for me. It details Jesus' masterful use of parables as a teaching tool. It is sometimes viewed as a short narrative followed by three parables. Chapter 15 is indeed a short narrative, but it is followed by one parable cleverly delivered as three. As tax collectors and sinners gathered around Jesus to hear Him speak, the Jewish religious leaders, Pharisees and scribes, complained about Jesus' fellowshipping with sinners. Jesus used the parable to teach and respond to their complaints. The lost sheep represents those who wander away rather than remain with their flock. This is descriptive of the tax collectors and sinners who strayed from Judaism but were being recovered by Jesus. The coin that was lost in the house represents those who remained in Judaism but were nevertheless lost because they were blind to the ways of God. The parable of the prodigal, or wasteful, son is a combination of the sheep and coin parables. After the father divided his livelihood between his two sons, the younger son strayed from the house and wasted his share. It was only when the younger son returned home that we could see the spiritual condition of the older son who remained at home. After the younger son wasted his inheritance, he could see the love and provisions of his father. He recognized that he was better being a servant of his father than trying to survive on his own. So, he returned home to apologize to his father and to ask to become his servant. The father graciously received the younger son and celebrated his return home. When the older son, who never left home, discovered what had happened, he became angry. He refused to join the celebration with the rest of the household. Therefore, his father went out and pleaded with him. He complained that his father was celebrating a backslider but had never celebrated with him. The father showed as much love to the older son as he had to the younger. He reminded the older son that everything there belonged to him. Before the younger son left home, the father divided everything between the two of them. Whatever the younger son did not carry away and squander, it belonged to the older son. The father was there as an example for the older son. The father had the fattened calf there for hosting a celebration. He was demonstrating for the older son when and what to celebrate. The older son never left home, but he was lost in the house—like the coin. The prodigal son learned the lesson of grace. Even when we make bad decisions and have hit rock bottom because of it, the grace of God is still available for the soul who repents and turns to Him. God graciously welcomes repentant souls back into fellowship with Him. Unfortunately, sometimes the ones who have never strayed are in worse spiritual condition than those who have fallen away and returned. Jesus cleverly dealt with two things in the parable. First, God's attitude towards sinners who repent and return to Him is that of acceptance and celebration. God also demonstrates love and patience towards the self-righteous who see themselves as judges of the sins of others. Whether one strayed from the faith into sin or remained religiously involved, there is a need for all to repent and turn to God in faith. Some have strayed and hit spiritual rock bottom and repented and turned to God. Some have not strayed but have failed to learn the lesson of love and compassion for repentant souls. Between tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and scribes, Jesus covered them all in the parable of the prodigal son. Robert C. Hudson February 16, 2023