March, 2007
“Two Points of View”
Luke 15:11-31
INTRODUCTION: Today our scripture is a well-known parable that generally focuses on the younger son who is labeled “the prodigal son” but he is only part of the story. We start with his journey, but it extends to the whole family.
According to Jewish custom by law the oldest son would get 2/3 of the property and the youngest could have expected to get the remaining 1/3 of the property, but an early request may have been less than 1/3 (Deut. 21:17). The division of the property was normally at the father’s death although some divided earlier and retired. In this case, the younger son initiated the division of property showing his disregard for his father’s authority as head of the family.
The father had the right to KETSATSAH or disownership of a son. Could be what is meant in vs. 24 by the son being called “dead”--at least the son did not expect to be coming back once he left.
What understanding can we get from the different “points of view” brought out in this story that we can apply to our lives today?
1. The Point of View from the Younger Son: Just what is a prodigal?
A prodigal is someone who recklessly throws away what he has. The younger son did that very quickly. He threw away not only his inheritance but also his relationship with his family. When he asked for the inheritance, he was rejecting his father. Then by moving to a distant country he was rejecting his Jewish Heritage as well. He quickly became caught in a downward spiral.
At the point of departure the prodigal didn’t even know what he had thrown away or that he had thrown anything away. He just wanted to get out of town away from his father breathing down his neck, away from any danger of interference from home. He wanted to be independent of his father’s control and advice.
As long as his inheritance lasted, his inner monitor was silent. “Do what I want, when I want, and it’s nobody’s business. I’ll do as I please.” That was his point of view at the beginning of his journey.
He began his downward spiral by heading for a far country where he would be free--or so he thought. Things happened in stages.
APPLICATION: Sometimes we wonder why people will not turn to the Lord even when many people are praying for them--even when people are inviting and encouraging them--why does it not seem to phase them? We wonder, why doesn’t God turn that person around quicker--why do people go from bad to worse and still not change. Why? You might wonder the same thing about yourself --Why is it so difficult for me to respond to God’s promptings in my life? Why do I continue on in the same pattern? The same thing happened to the younger son. He progressed through several stages before he “came to himself” and realized where he was and what he had lost.
Could the father have talked him out of leaving?
Could he have refused to give the inheritance in the first place?
He didn’t seem to try to stop him. Maybe he knew that this younger son had to find out for himself and experience his own pain. This happens today in families and parents often blame themselves when their children take the prodigal route.
The first step downward was the son’s waste of all his resources, but that didn’t seem to stop him. He partied and had lots of friends while the money lasted. It is interesting to note that it was only after the money ran out that the FAMINE also hit the land. Up until this point, he was not hurting all that much, but when the famine hit, scripture says he BEGAN TO BE IN NEED. At this point things were getting worse, and he was beginning to feel the pinch personally--but that still was not enough to bring him to see things differently. He would just go find a job and things would be OK again. He could make it on his own.
How many times do we feel SELF-SUFFICIENT in our need--we can make it on our own--don’t need God all that much. I can take care of it on my own. He was successful in landing a job, but it was not a good job. To a Jewish person it was the most humiliating job he could have come up with--feeding the pigs. He still had his PRIDE--he was not ready to go home yet--there would have been shame in a return home.
How many times does our PRIDE keep us from something better--because of PRIDE and SELF SUFFICIENCY we would rather continue on the downward spiral.
He began to get hungry--would have eaten the husks that the pigs ate. The very poorest people ate the pods--but no one took pity on him or even offered him any. The downward spiral was beginning to take effect on him now. He was not only broke but hungry as well. He had finally hit bottom.
TURNING POINT: The turning point comes in verse 17 when it tells us, “WHEN he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare and here I am starving to death.”
APPLICATION: At what point in our lives do we realize our need for God. At what point do we give up our “I’ll do it my way attitude--our self sufficient way of doing things--our pridefulness that holds us back?
Sometimes it takes many years for us to realize where we are and “come to our senses.”
Once he realized that he was in the pig pen of life, he made some decisions. He said, “I will arise and go back to my father...”
I will say:
1. Father I have sinned against heaven and against you.
2. No longer worthy to be called your son.
3. Make me a hired servant.
This was a turning point in his THINKING for him. Things have to change. Today you might say, “My life has to change, I have to do something about this. I can’t continue to go on like this--You might be to the point of saying, “I will arise and go...
Many people will say, “I know I should go to church. I know I should come to the Lord--I know I should...I INTEND to do better. Others say, “but I just can’t get up on Sunday mornings...I know I SHOULD --I OUGHT TO....but...
STORY: One little girl who came to my junior girls’ class said, “I’m badder this year than I was last year.” Well, what can you do about it????? Are you going to stay that way???
The prodigal son did more than a lot of people today--vs. 20 says, “he GOT UP and WENT to his father. He didn’t just talk about it. Some people do more than RECOGNIZE their need. We have to take action also if we expect to see changes take place in our lives. We can give the prodigal son credit for taking the necessary ACTION to GO BACK HOME. He didn’t know if he would be welcome, he didn’t know if he would get a stern lecture or a “I told you so but you wouldn’t listen,” or if he would get a cold shoulder.
He had already given up his right to be a son. He was willing to go back as a servant. He was willing to do the lowest job. He is hoping the door wouldn’t be closed to him. Fear of rejection could have stopped him from even going in the first place.
Is his repentance genuine? Maybe, maybe not. We don’t know what happens to him later on. But at this turning point in life whether he deserved it or not verse 20 says, “but while he was still a LONG WAY OFF his father
1. saw him and was filled with
2. compassion for him
3. ran to meet him
4. received him
This gives us a picture of how God sees us when we are still a LONG WAY OFF and he COMES to us. He sent Jesus to bridge the gap--while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). To bring us back--to restore us to himself. The repentant son said, “I have sinned...I am no longer worthy to be called your son...”
The Father took that as a sincere repentance. God takes us seriously when we come to him.
But the father said:
1. Bring the best robe--Zech. 3:4, Isaiah 61:10, Rev. 6:11, Genesis 41:42; Rev. 3:18.
2. Put a ring on his finger (Genesis 41:42; James 2:2)
3. Sandals on his feet--a slave didn’t wear shoes--a son did.
What is significant about these three things? Scripture speaks of the robe of righteousness that God puts on us as he forgives us from sin and restores us to Himself. Genesis 41:42 is an example of the ring, a symbol of status and authority. The sandals represent sonship. A slave didn’t wear shoes.
2. The Older Son: The other son’s story is shorter, less well known. He was the one who worked hard for his father all his life. He kept the rules and lived by them. He had always done the right thing, but he shares a common problem with his brother. In many ways he is a prodigal too--he thinks he is getting a raw deal and he is angry. Probably rightfully so. He feels that things are not fair because the father is killing the fatted calf for the wayward son and he has never done that for him. He recklessly wastes his opportunity to enjoy the celebration because he has become angry and resentful. He becomes a prodigal because he also doesn’t realize what he has and he makes himself a servant who is working hard but who has made his relationship with his father one of pure economics. He does not care about his brother. He refuses to join in the celebration because he is resentful and unforgiving. This attitude causes him to be impoverished also.
Perhaps the father was insensitive to his need for assurance that he was appreciated and valued in the family. The son was upset because he didn’t even know about the celebration ahead of time. He was not informed of it. He heard the music once the celebration was in progress. Yet the father did go to him and try to help him to understand that the son who had been lost had now been found. The older son could not bring himself to forgive. How many times we cannot forgive things that have happened to us years ago. It does not happen overnight. In holding on to his ill feelings he was losing his peace and joy as a part of the family. In spite of his inheritance, he was not enjoying what was rightfully his because his heart had become hardened. He was taking on the attitude of the Pharisees who were judgmental and critical.
The restoration is left unanswered. We don’t know how the older son reacted. The ending is left to us. We don’t know if he enters the house or not but clearly he can if he wants to do so.
3. We are all prodigals to some extent: Are you a prodigal? If you say “yes” you are probably not. If you say “no” you might be. At times we may identify with the younger brother feeling rebellious or resentful toward God and others. We don’t want his watchful eye to condemn us for our choices or for going our own careless ways. At other times we are like the older brother who forfeits what is rightfully because of allowing unforgiveness and resentment to take over and drain us of all peace and joy. He did not feel “at home” even when he was at home. At times there may be many reasons why we may not feel “at home” with God.
CONCLUSION: How can we, too, come home again? How can we enjoy the celebration of restoration?
1. Picture yourself returning to the Father.
2. See him running to welcome you home.
3. Hear his words of restoration for your particular need--whether a long way from home or at home yet far away in your attitude and feelings.
4. Receive his restoration back into the family.
Shall we pray.
