Parable Of The Forgiving Father Series

Our heavenly father makes the first move to bring sinners to Himself.

When the father saw the son, he ran to him. Wouldn't it be more natural for him to sit back and wait for the son to beg for forgiveness? But he went first to the son, and he even ran! He forgot all his pride. This reminds me of the love of our heavenly father.

(Romans 5:8 NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God made the first move. And He had to stoop so low to make the first move He emptied himself of everything and came down as a man.

There may be someone who had sinned against you. Are you willing to follow the example of the father and make the first move to restore the relationship?

Our heavenly father does not mind our filth.

We were told the son was so desperate he even had to feed the pigs. How dirty he must be, to not only feed the pigs, but also to eat the same thing the pigs ate. Not only that, in those days, pigs are unclean animals and no Jew is allowed to touch them. But the son actually works as a feeder of pigs. How spiritual unclean he must be, in addition to being physically unclean.

But the father threw his arms round the son and kissed him. Can you imagine that? I often tell myself I do not have a problem working with sinners but please don't come so close. That is spiritual pride. I forgot how much I must smell and how much filth I have but God still hugged me. The Bible tells us that compared to the absolutely holy God, our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) If our righteous acts are like filthy rags, can you imagine what our sin would be? But God does not mind the filth. He associated with sinners at close range. He sat and ate with them.

(Matthew 9:10-11 NIV) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. {11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

Are we keeping our distance with sinners? Do we only want to associate with normal God-fearing Christians? Do sinners find us approachable?

Do we feel that our sin is so great God cannot possibly want to have anything to do with us? The best answer came from Jesus himself.

(Luke 5:31-32 NIV) Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {32} I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Our heavenly father accepts sinners even though they have done nothing to deserve it

This parable is an excellent illustration of the grace of our heavenly Father. The sinful son had done nothing to deserve his father’s forgiveness. He thought he needed to “work” in order to be accepted into his father’s household. And even then only as one of his servants.

Yet the father had something totally different in mind. He was willing to accept him as a son even before he had done anything to make amends. The simple act of acknowledging his fault and wanting to go back to the father was all that was necessary.