Luke 15:11-24
Main Idea: God joyfully runs with mercy to welcome his prodigal children home.
I. The Misery of Sin (15:11-16)
The younger son asking for his share of the inheritance is highly offensive; he is essentially asking for his father to liquidate his property (Gk. ousia & bios; “being” & “life”) and wishing he were dead. It is not only the younger son who breaks cultural customs; the Father in the story does the unthinkable by granting this wish to his son, at great cost to himself.
The younger son’s actions show us the essence of sin in story form. Sin is selfishly taking the good gifts of our Father for our own purposes while rejecting the Giver.
Romans 1:24–25: Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!
Just like the younger son, when we are confronted with disappointments, difficult circumstances, or the feeling of the “mundane” in our ordinary lives, we can begin to think there is something better for us “out there.”
The younger son’s actions teach us at least 3 things about sin.
Sin is addicting: the son “squandered” his money in reckless ways until “he had spent everything”
Sin is enslaving: after being “mastered” by his sin, he offers himself to be hired by the Gentiles in the faraway country (cf. Jn. 8:34)
Sin is unfulfilling: the son is “longing” to be fed - even by the food of an unclean animal - but he was left starving and empty-handed
“Insofar as I keep choosing to try to find that satisfaction in finite, created things—whether it’s sex or addiction or beauty or power—I’m going to be caught in a cycle where I’m more disappointed in those things and more and more dependent on those things. I keep choosing things with diminishing returns, and when that becomes habitual, and eventually necessary, then I forfeit my ability to choose. The thing has me now.” ~ James K. A. Smith
II. The Joy of Repentance (15:17-21)
Hitting rock bottom, the son “came to himself.” This is one of many examples of God’s sovereignty tracking him down, putting him on the path toward repentance. The son’s “repentance” is incomplete in this moment, as he offers to work his way back into his Father’s household, not thinking about his need for grace and mercy.
The beauty of the gospel is seen profoundly in v. 20:
The Father was looking for his son, seeing him “a long way off”
He is filled with compassion, and his heart goes out to his wayward & prodigal son
He runs to greet his son with mercy and kindness, something that would have been shameful for a father in this society
“The prodigal son was resolved to come, yet he was half afraid. But we read that his father ran. Slow are the steps of repentance but swift are the feet of forgiveness... Though the father was out of breath, he was not out of love.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
The son is completely taken aback by this surprising act of kindness by his father, and responds with repentance in 15:21. He doesn’t offer to work as a servant, instead simply acknowledging his sin and unworthiness in response to the love of his Father (cf. Rom. 2:4).
“The wayward son is not defined by his prodigality but by the welcome of a father who never stopped looking, who is ever scanning the distance, and who runs to gather him up in an embrace. God is not tapping his foot judgmentally inside the door as you sneak in, crawling over the threshold in shame. He’s the father running toward you, losing his sandals on the way, his robes spilling off his shoulders with a laughing smile whose joy says, “I can’t believe you came home!” This is what grace looks like.” ~ James K. A. Smith
III. The Celebration of Heaven (15:22-24)
The parable of the Prodigal Son is the third story that Jesus tells in Luke 15. There is an obvious theme that runs through each: there is to be rejoicing when something that was lost is now found. The stories escalate the nature of what is lost, beginning with a sheep, then a coin, and now, a son.
The son’s restoration doesn’t remain on the road, as the Father ensures that he will be welcomed home as a son, and nothing less. He throws a massive party and celebration to make his restoration complete.
The robe would be for a guest of honor, and likely was the Father’s
The ring was the signet ring with the family seal to conduct business
Shoes were to signify that he was a son, as being barefoot was a sign of shame or enslavement
“Not only does the father forgive without asking questions and joyfully welcome his lost son home, but he cannot wait to give him new life, life in abundance. So strongly does God desire to give life to his returning son that he seems almost impatient. Nothing is good enough. The very best must be given to him. While the son is prepared to be treated as a hired servant, the father calls for the robe reserved for a distinguished guest; and, although the son no longer feels worthy to be called son, the father gives him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet to honor him as his beloved son and restore him as his heir.” ~ Henri Nouwen.
The “fattened calf” was reserved for special occasions, meant to feed a large number of people in celebration.
The Bible continually talks about heaven and what awaits us in the future in terms of a “feast” or a great celebration involving a meal. The very thing the Pharisees were grumbling about (“this man receives sinners and eats with them”) will be a foretaste of glory when we dine at the wedding feast of the Lamb.
If you are the prodigal… what if you came home?
If you are already home… are you celebrating?
