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

3. 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

4. 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 The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 “Prodigal” = wasteful 1 Pet 1:17-19

5. The Parable  A man had 2 sons  The younger son demanded his portion of the inheritance…he was ready to “manage his own affairs” vv. 11-12  He left “not many days later” v. 13a The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Represents typical human behavior Man is inclined to live his life without any concern for his Father and His will Rom 1:21-22, 28

6. The Parable  A man had 2 sons  The younger son demanded his portion of the inheritance…he was ready to “manage his own affairs” vv. 11-12  He left “not many days later” v. 13a The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The father couldn’t stop the son…he was already in the “far country” Acts 7:39b His free will could not be set aside – even though he was wrong It is the same re: God Rom 1:24a, 26a, 28b

7. The Parable  It didn’t take long for the son to run through his money v. 13b  He began to suffer at the hands of a cold & cruel world vv. 14-16  “Friends” who deserted him  Unforeseen setbacks (famine) The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32

8. The Parable  It didn’t take long for the son to run through his money v. 13b  He began to suffer at the hands of a cold & cruel world vv. 14-16  An uncaring employer who only wanted to use him for his own gain The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 This young man’s ignorance & naivete is exposed The world is not the “opportunistic place” we think Gen 3:4-6 1 Jn 2:15-17

9. The Parable  It didn’t take long for the son to run through his money v. 13b  He began to suffer at the hands of a cold & cruel world vv. 14-16  An uncaring employer who only wanted to use him for his own gain The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 The “far country” takes all we have and gives nothing in return It destroys everything The “freedom” that seduced this young man was now killing him 1 Pet 2:11

10. The Parable  What was the 1 place he couldn’t wait to leave? v. 12  After v. 14, what 1 place do you think was constantly on his mind?  His father’s goodness will eventually save him Rom 2:4 The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32

11. The Parable  He had to start feeding swine v. 15  Parabolic context assumes he was a Jew  Swine was problematic Lev 11:7  He proves the truth found in Prov 13:15b  The hard life belongs to the one who refuses to submit to God’s will The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Remember… Sin takes you farther than you want to go… …keeps you longer than you want to stay… …costs you more than you want to pay

12. The Parable  Things got so bad this young man was willing to eat the hog slop v. 16a  He left home full…now, he is broken and empty  No one was helping him v. 16b The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32

13. The Parable  What about his “friends?” v. 13b  They didn’t like him  They only liked his money  When his money was gone, so were they The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Material wealth is temporary Prov 23:5 When one has money, he has many “friends” Prov 14:20 True friends show their worth in adverse times Prov 17:17

14. The Parable  What about his “friends?” v. 13b  They didn’t like him  They only liked his money  When his money was gone, so were they The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 Those in the world don’t care about you They only want to use you to serve their own selfish purposes When you can no longer help them, they’ll discard you

15. The Parable  Once things got bad, what else could this young man have done?  Toughed it out (prove why he left home)  More sin (steal a pig on the side…sell it)  Claim “I’m a victim!” (failure of friends, an uncaring boss, the famine) The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32

16. The Parable  What would these “options” have fixed?  Nothing…to adopt any of these “options” would have been to say “This hog pen doesn’t really smell that bad after all”  What was his real problem?  A broken relationship with his father The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32

17. The Parable  What was the only “option” that made sense? v. 17a  The filth had to finally fill his nostrils  He had to finally “come to himself”  He knew he was at the end of his rope The Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32 This has to happen to every “prodigal” Living in sin (apart from God) indicates we are not in our right mind 2 Tim 2:24-25 We must eventually say “Enough!!” 1 Pet 4:3

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