The Path Of A Prodigal
Text: Luke 15: 11-24
Intro: The passage before us today is a parable of Jesus that beautifully illustrates the grace, mercy and love of God toward lost sinners, and the joy their repentance and salvation gives Him. This parable is the last of three stories Jesus used to answer the accusation of the Pharisees, who said, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15: 2). The same accusation was leveled at Christ and His disciples in Luke 5: 30-32. When Jesus overheard their question, He got right to the point. He said, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5: 31 & 32). Jesus was not saying that the Pharisees had no need of repentance, but rather that He could not deliver anyone from sin, who trusted in their own outward goodness and assumed righteousness. Only those who saw themselves for what they truly were could experience God’s merciful forgiveness and salvation.
Folks, God doesn’t save good people, only sinners. Until a person comes to the place of realizing their personal sinfulness and guilt before a holy God, they cannot be saved. Salvation is not a matter of agreeing to certain religious dogma, or principles. Receiving eternal life is acquired by putting one’s faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ, and His work on Calvary, to forgive you and save you, because you have come to realize that you are spiritually bankrupt, with no means within yourself to gain God’s favor.
Many people in our modern-day society seem to have the mistaken idea that God is some sort of cosmic ogre, who is just waiting for the chance to send somebody to Hell for all eternity—that He is some sort of divine killjoy, who wants to sap all the fun out of a person’s life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God’s Word clearly tells us that God is, “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3: 9b). If you will notice closely, you will find that this parable:
…Emphasizes the graciousness of the father more than the sinfulness of the son…the father did not go out to seek the son, but it was the memory of his father’s goodness that brought the boy to repentance and forgiveness (see Rom. 2:4).
Warren W. Wiersbe, Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments, as found in QuickVerse, A Division Of Findex.Com, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska.
If there’s one thing that I want everyone to be aware of today, it is that God loves you. That’s the reason He sent His Son to the Cross of Calvary to suffer your pain, and pay your penalty for sin, so that you, through faith in Christ, could be forgiven, and receive eternal life. Don’t forget that, “…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Rom.2: 4b).
Theme: The path of this prodigal led to:
I. A DEPARTURE FROM HIS FATHER
A. Look At This Man’s Wanton Selfishness.
1. Notice the greediness of the son.
Luke 15: 11 “And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12a And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me...”
2. Notice the graciousness of the father.
Luke 15: 12b “…And he divided unto them (his two sons) his living.”
NOTE: [1] The younger son’s request was tantamount to telling his father, “I wish you were dead,” “I’m not concerned with you. I’ve got my own life to live.” As a matter of fact, the words “give me” imply immediate action. The Greek rendering carries the idea of, “give me directly the share of the estate which falls to me” (Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament, An Expanded Translation, published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; pg. 177). Though this young man’s request was legal, it wasn’t very loving. Jewish law stipulated that a man’s property could be divided up between his heirs upon his death, incapacitation, or during his lifetime, at a time of his choosing. The elder son would receive two thirds of his father’s wealth, while the other heirs divided up the remaining third. The problem here was greediness and selfishness. Wiersbe once said, “The root of sin is selfishness—‘I will’ and not ‘Thy will’” (Warren W. Wiersbe, Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments, as found in QuickVerse, A Division Of Findex.Com, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska). Somebody once noted: “Man is self-centered. Man is seeking to satisfy himself. ‘A man all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package’” (Source unknown. Taken from pastorlife.com).
[2] Notice how graciously the father responded to the request of his younger son. We’re not told of any argument or lecture on his part. He simply divided up his property between his two sons to do with, as they desired. It is also interesting to note that the word “living,” in verse 12, literally means, “his life” (Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, Editors, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 1054). Jesus gave up His life for our salvation and forgiveness. But while some accept it and value it, others, who are unwise, squander God’s free gift of salvation.
B. Look At This Man’s Waste Of His Substance.
Luke 15: 13 “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”
NOTE: [1] The younger son stuck around only as long as it took to turn his share of the inheritance into spending money. The words “gathered all together” basically mean that he “…put all his resources into one lump sum…” (Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament, An Expanded Translation, published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; pg. 177).
[2] The sin nature wants what it craves; and this young man, with money in his pockets, went off to the far country and indulged his wicked desires. Thomas Huxley once said, “A man’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do just as he likes” (Warren W. Wiersbe, Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments, as found in QuickVerse, A Division Of Findex.Com, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska). Such became the case with this man.
[3] Notice that verse 13 tells us that this man “wasted” his substance, which means to, “scatter right and left” (Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Commentary On The Gospel Of Luke, pg. 242).
[4] He wasted all of his substance on “riotous living,” the Bible says. The idea here is that of “wild living” (John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 245). This man was throwing his life away, by feeding his flesh on its baser appetites. His older brother probably described the situation pretty well when he complained to his father: “But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” (Luke 15: 30). Apart from Christ, every life is ultimately a wasted life.
II. A DESPERATION FOUND IN THE FAMINE
A. He Experienced Humiliation.
Luke 15: 14 “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”
NOTE: [1] Satan has duped a lot of people into thinking that the “good life” will bring them satisfaction. But as Jesus said, “…He [Satan] is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8: 44b). As the prodigal son could tell you, once the money runs out, the music stops, and the famine is in full swing in your life, it is anything but satisfying. This man wasted his life on sin, and found himself in both physical and spiritual want. Sin always produces spiritual famine in the soul of men and women.
Sin promises freedom, but it only brings slavery (John 8: 34); it promises success, but brings failure; it promises life, but “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6: 23). The boy thought he would “find himself,” but he only lost himself! When God is left out of our lives, enjoyment becomes enslavement.
Warren W. Wiersbe, Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments, as found in QuickVerse, A Division Of Findex.Com, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska.
[2] It’s interesting that the word “joined,” in verse 15, literally means, “to glue” (Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Commentary On The Gospel Of Luke, pg. 242). There is also some indication from the Greek that this young man literally forced himself on a citizen of this country, who really didn’t want to hire him. He became servant to a man who really didn’t even want him. But he was desperate, and he was willing to do whatever he had to do to survive; so much so that he was willing to “feed swine” (v. 15b). Having to feed pigs was the lowest possible humiliation for a Jew. But folks, that’s what sin does for the sinner. As someone once said, “Sin will take you farther than you intended to go, keep you longer than you intended to stay, and cost you far more than you intended to pay” (Source Unknown). This young man wallowed around in the muck and mire of sin, and literally became a servant to the pigs. By the way: just as the pigsty left its stench on that young man, sin will leave its stench on the sinner.
B. He Experienced Hunger.
Luke 15: 16 “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”
NOTE: [1] This man was in utter destitution. He was so hungry he even thought of eating some of what the pigs ate. The “husks” mentioned here, refer to “carob pods, from tall evergreen carob trees” (John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 245). What a humiliation for this Jew. Sin often brings one down farther than they thought they could go.
[2] People are trying to satisfy their inner hunger on the husks of this world, and are still coming up empty. Only Jesus can satisfy your soul, my friend. Not only was this man hungry, but he was helpless as well. Everyone had forsaken him. He was in much the same situation of which the psalmist spoke when he said, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Ps.142: 4). Maybe that’s the way you feel today, dear sinner friend—forsaken, alone, destitute of soul and spirit. If so, there is good news for you. Romans 5: 6 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Jesus loves you; no matter how far down sin has taken you. He died that you could be set free from the bondage of sin and death.
C. He Evaluated Himself.
Luke 15: 17 “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”
NOTE: Before a person can come to God for salvation, they have to take stock of where they are spiritually—a sinner, deserving of God’s judgment; helpless within themselves to straighten out the mess they’ve made of their life; and powerless to do any better. You must be willing to submit yourself wholly to God, and by faith, turn from your sins, and turn to Christ, inviting Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior.
III. A DELIGHT FOSTERED BY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER
A. It Began With Resolve.
Luke 15: 18 “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”
NOTE: Did you notice the change of attitude that had taken place in the poor prodigal? When he left his father, he said, “Give me what is mine. I want it now” (v. 12). But now, with a broken and humbled spirit, he says, “Make me as one of your hired servants” (v. 19b). No one gets saved without humbling themselves before God, “…for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Pet.5: 5b). Salvation is always on God’s terms, not the sinner’s.
B. Repentance Brought The Father Running.
Luke 15: 20 “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
NOTE: [1] I love the words, “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion…” Those words imply to me that that father had been daily looking down that road, watching and waiting for his wayward son to come home. Dear sinner friend, God’s waiting for you to come home. Why not turn from your sins, and give your heart to Christ by faith? Why not come home?
[2] If you’ll come to Christ, God the Father will welcome you warmly, as did this boy’s father. In the Greek, the words “kissed him” indicate that this father kissed his son tenderly and repeatedly. This dad didn’t want to rake this boy over the coals for the mess he’d made of his life. He was simply overjoyed to have his son home. That’s a picture of God the Father and the repentant sinner.
C. Repentance Bestowed The Riches Of Redemption.
Luke 15: 21 “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Theme: The path of this prodigal led to:
I. A DEPARTURE FROM HIS FATHER
II. A DESPERATION FOUND IN THE FAMINE
III. A DELIGHT FOSTERED BY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER
