The Prodigal Son

SCRIPTURE: Luke 15:11-32 "And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 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. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 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. 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. 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: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

PROPOSITION: to use this text to expose the character of the younger son and the older brother of Luke chapter 15. To show that the real hero of this parable is the father who is loving, kind, compassionate and forgiving. and also to show that God is willing to show any sinner forgiveness if they're willing to repent and come to Christ.

1. Who was the youngest son and what is Jesus teaching us through him.

A. He was a very self centered person who put a much higher value in material possessions and his own pleasure then he did in the value of his father, he said to his Father "give me the portion of goods that falleth to me". there are millions of people today who seek things first and put the great majestic God of glory as far away from their mind as their conscience will allow them to. But Jesus has told us that "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

B. He considered himself Superior to his father so much so that he commanded his father, he said "give me". there are delusional sinners like that today, they put demands on their Creator as though he owes them something, and through the pride of their countenance they have placed themselves above God. Lucifer was the first one to do this, and he has had many followers. Isaiah 14:13 "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God"

C. Not many days after his Father had "divided unto them his living" " the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country", often sinners think if they can get away from restraints that they can live in the "pleasure of unrighteousness" without the "wages of unrighteousness", But sin always has its consequences both in this life and in the life to come. Someone once said that sin will always take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay, and that saying is a commentary on this young man's life.