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The Parable Of The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Setting In The Perean Ministry Jn 10:40-42 In His 3rd year of preaching A little more than 3 months to crucifixion Again, Jesus is criticized for eating with “sinners” vv. 1-2 cp. Mt 9:10-13

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Setting Jesus tells 3 parables to emphasize the value of “lost things” Parable Of The Lost Sheep vv. 3-7 Parable Of The Lost Coin vv. 8-10 Parable Of The Lost Son vv. 11-32 “Prodigal” = wasteful 1 Pet 1:17-19

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 His resolve to go home indicates genuine repentance 2 Cor 7:8-11 - Enough godly sorrow to change - Diligence to do better - Desire to clear one’s name The Parable He realizes his father’s servants at home were doing better than he was v. 17b He knows what he must do vv. 18-19 Confess his sin, failures Accept he has forfeited his “family rights” Beg for mercy

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 His resolve to go home indicates genuine repentance 2 Cor 7:8-11 - Indignation at the sin committed - The longing to be vindicated The Parable He realizes his father’s servants at home were doing better than he was v. 17b He knows what he must do vv. 18-19 Confess his sin, failures Accept he has forfeited his “family rights” Beg for mercy

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 His heart was now totally changed Before, he demanded “Give me…” v. 12 Now, he will beg “Make me…” v. 19 The Parable He realizes his father’s servants at home were doing better than he was v. 17b He knows what he must do vv. 18-19 Confess his sin, failures Accept he has forfeited his “family rights” Beg for mercy

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The words he plans to say are TRUE They need to be said They confess his failures and his unwise decision to leave home They admit he has caused pain to the one person who loved him most… his father

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable He started back home v. 20a Unbeknownst to him, his father had been hoping for his return v. 20b He was watching for the first glimpse down the road that had taken his son away

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 This represents the heart of God He is longing for our return 2 Pet 3:9 The Parable This is what parents of a prodigal do They hope and pray…even agonize for the safe return of their loved one

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable An emotional scene!! v. 20c The father’s hopes are realized…he sees his son coming back home He initiates the “homecoming”…rushing to his son, he embraces him & kisses him

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable An emotional scene!! v. 20c Do we imagine the son looked anything like he did when he left home? Tattered, torn, smelly…none of that matters He has come back home !!

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable What the father didn’t do… Make the son come crawling back Not view the son with indignant cynicism (Well, look who’s back !!) No lectures on his appearance, what he had done to the family, etc.

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable What the father didn’t do… No “I told you so…” None of that is necessary The son has repented…he has learned the hard way what the father always knew

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The son’s motivation = repentance v. 17 The father’s motivation = compassion v. 20 What else needs to happen?

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The son begins his “rehearsed” speech v. 21 The father interrupts vv. 22-24 It wasn’t time to rebuke the sinful son It wasn’t time to re-live the grief of the remorseful son

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The son begins his “rehearsed” speech v. 21 The father interrupts vv. 22-24 It was time to celebrate the return of the penitent son

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 This represents the heart of God Complete forgiveness Rom 4:5-8 Heb 8:12 Total joy Lk 15:7, 10 The Parable Coming home, the son must have been expecting the worst Amazingly, he received the best Complete restoration as a son!! He was dead…he is alive again!! He was lost…he has been found!!

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The rest of the story will focus on the older son who stayed home vv. 25-32 He comes home to the party…does not know the its reason…inquires vv. 25-27 After learning it is in honor of his brother, he refuses to participate v. 28a

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The rest of the story will focus on the older son who stayed home vv. 25-32 The father entreated him to join in v. 28b He refused vv. 29-30 “I’ve been faithful all these years…I have never had a party for my efforts” DEEDS

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Was he right…was the younger son wasteful? Yes…he admitted it But the older brother was guilty of hypocrisy Mt 7:1-5 Gal 6:1 Remember Lesson 2 Lk 7:40-43 [pp. 5-6] The Parable The rest of the story will focus on the older son who stayed home vv. 25-32 He refused vv. 29-30 “This son of yours wastes your wealth on harlots…he gets a celebration” [He couldn’t even say “My brother”]

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The rest of the story will focus on the older son who stayed home vv. 25-32 The father’s final appeal vv. 31-32 He agreed with his older son on one thing He admits their special relationship “…all these years” (he was the 1st born)

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable The rest of the story will focus on the older son who stayed home vv. 25-32 The father’s final appeal vv. 31-32 But he still pleads with him to celebrate “It is right…” to rejoice re: “your brother” [Not “My son”]

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Parable Notes The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Proof that anyone can come home…consider the first converts Acts 2:22-23, 36-38 No matter how “far” we go Eph 2:13 God is merciful to the penitent Rom 5:6-8 Eph 2:1-9 The Parable The rest of the story will focus on the older son who stayed home vv. 25-32 The father’s final appeal vv. 31-32 When one comes home who shouldn’t have gone astray, it is time to rejoice MERCY

The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The Lesson Am I the “prodigal who left?” Have I smelled enough of the filth? Have I gone back to a loving Father? Am I the “prodigal who stayed home?” Do I rejoice when sinners come home? Do I realize my own need for mercy?

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