The Lost Sons - Part 2 Series

The Lost Sons (Part 2)

Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together …

John 14:23-24

“Jesus said, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.

“He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me.”

And our memory refresher verse(s) for today is(are) …

Romans 6:22-23

“Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Please open your Bibles to: Luke 15:21-32

Last week we started taking a look at what is widely known as the parable of the Prodigal Son.

Do you know the little titles that are printed in some Bibles over a group of verses? Some of the older Bibles describe this section of verses as “The Prodigal Son”. Other titles that I have seen are, “The Forgiving Father” and, interestingly enough, “The Lost Sons”.

Remember that in this chapter Jesus is spending time socializing with tax collectors and “sinners”. The Jewish leaders would never associate with such people and so they wondered why this untrained rabbi would do so.

And so their curiosity led them to watch Jesus carefully to see what

So, Jesus began to teach the tax collectors, the sinners, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law or anyone who would listen.

(Give a brief overview description of verses 11-24 to lead into today’s Scripture)

Just try to imagine what this son even looked like!

We don’t know how long he’s been gone but it must take a while to get to “a distant country”.

And now he’s returning from a pig sty in a distant country. His clothing is probably tattered. His spirit is broken. He probably still smells like a pig sty.

He is at the point of near starvation. His hair; tangled and unkempt.

He approaches home looking like a homeless beggar.

With that in mind let’s read from God’s Word: Luke 15:21-32

May God bless the reading of His Word! (Prayer for help)

Luke 15:24

“So they began to celebrate ...”

Can you see why some people refer to this section of Scripture as “The Forgiving Father?”

This is a father who has a perspective on things that is much like our Heavenly Father. Everything in this world will pass away except for the Word of God and our eternal souls.

Oh that we would have the same perspective as out heavenly Father.

But … the elder son did not have the same perspective …

Luke 15:25-26

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’”

That’s pretty self explanatory, right?

The older son has been working on the farm like he always does.

He asks one of the servants about what is going on inside the house and he is told, “Your brother has returned home and they are celebrating with a big party!!!”

What might be going through his mind?

What might be going through ours?

What? He came home and dad let him in? I can’t believe it!

He leaves here with a fortune and comes home empty handed and dad is throwing a party for him! That’s unbelievable!!!

I cannot imagine that it was a pleasant parting when the younger son left home. “Give me my inheritance and I’m out of here! I hope I never see this place again.” Was it something like that? Was the elder son remembering the day his younger brother departed?

Luke 15:28

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.”

This whole celebration thing does NOT go over well with older brother!

I’m not going in there!

So, what does the forgiving father do?

Dad comes out to talk with him. What a great dad!

Here’s a Jewish dad who humiliates himself by running to his rebellious son who has obviously been through very difficult times!

Here’s a dad who doesn’t discipline his rebellious son but lavishes gifts on him and throws a huge banquet in his honor!

This dad should be Father of the Year!

Not only does he celebrate the return of the lost son but he then goes out and PLEADS with his older son to come in and join in the celebration!