The Perfect Father

A Perfect Father

Luke 15

Chenoa Baptist Church

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

6-15-2025

Happy Father’s Day

Good morning! I would like to wish you a Happy Father’s Day.

In 1909, Sonora Dodd sat through in church listening to a Mother’s day sermon and wondered to herself why there wasn’t a Father’s day. Her mother had died young and her father raised six kids on his own. The idea for Father’s Day was born.

While we have celebrated our mother’s sacrifice and investment in our lives for nearly one hundred years, fathers did not get their due until President Johnson declared the third Sunday in June as an official holiday in 1966.

Some of us will call our dads or see them later today. Some of us will honor their memory and the day will be difficult. Father’s Day is a strange day and many are still not sure what to make of it.

A little boy was asked the difference between Father’s Day and Mother’s Day and replied, “They are about the same…except you don’t have to spend nearly as much money on Father’s Day.”

It is reported that Americans spent 21 billion dollars on Mother’s Day but only 12.7 billion on Father’s Day.

What’s the most common gift? A tie or underwear and socks.

Or maybe, this year you could give him a Mandale. [Video]

This morning, I want to look at a story Jesus told about a father and son that changed the way I saw God and myself completely.

Turn with me to Luke Chapter 15 as I explain the context.

Prayer.

Text within the Context

Verse 1 starts:

“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.”

Jesus was doing what he did best ­- eating lunch and explaining the things of God. He was teaching the people He loved best - ­ the outcasts. Jesus hung out with dishonest businessmen, crooked politicians, and brazen prostitutes who could have cared less about the religious rules of the day.

This verse specifically identifies the “tax collectors.” These were Jews that had turned against their own country and collected taxes for the Roman government that occupied their land.

They extorted money from their fellow countrymen and got rich doing so. For this, they paid a heavy price. Tax collectors were excluded from the religious community and shunned by most respectable Jews.

Tax collecting was treasonous and deserving of death. But in Jesus they found a friend. Jesus had chosen a tax collector whom He renamed Matthew to be part of His mentoring group of disciples.

These men, along with the dregs of Jewish society, were drawn to hear Jesus speak. Jesus went further than just teaching them, He ate with them. To associate with these people was bad enough, but to eat with them was outrageous!

The original meaning of our word “companion” means “with bread.” To eat with someone was a sign of your friendship with that person. Jesus drove the religious leaders crazy!

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Now before we are too hard on these guys, remember that they were the “good” guys. They championed the Word of God. They were interested in holiness and many had a sincere desire for pleasing God.

There was just one problem. They had forgotten that lost people matter to God. They were looking for a Messiah to conquer Rome not One who could conquer lost hearts.

Can you hear them, “ You know he calls himself a rabbi and some say he is the Messiah. Doesn’t he know who he is sharing bread with? Doesn’t he know that God hates sinners?” They were grumbling and muttering and they were wrong.

Or at least, part wrong. God hates sin because it separates us from Him but he loves sinners enough to give His Son for them. The teachers needed teaching and Jesus tells three parables to drive home His point.

He doesn’t give a lecture or a sermon but tells a story of a lost sheep, lost silver coin, and a lost son. Stories bypass our intellect and can get to our heart. Let’s focus on the story of the lost son and his father.

The Lost Son

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father give me my share of the estate.” So he divided the property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had…

· The Son severed ties with his family

The story begins by immediately drawing all the listeners that were fathers.

There are two sons and the younger one demands his share of the estate.

The Message paraphrase puts it this way, “ I want right now what is coming to me.” You can hear the anger in his demands. It was as if he were saying, “Dad, you old fool. You are as good as dead to me. Cash it all in Pops and give me my share. I’m going to blow this one horse town and live it up!”