The Parable Of The Prodigal Son

LESSONS FROM Luke 15:11-24

This parable was given because, when the tax collectors approached Jesus, the religious authorities were offended saying: This man receives sinners and eats with them.

Jesus narrates three parables, including this one of the Prodigal son.

Vs 11-13 THE REBELLION OF THE SON. He wants his inheritance now and does not care for nor love the father. This is a picture of humanity that does not acknowledge the Father from whom every good and perfect gift comes.

Vs 14- 16 THE RUIN OF THE SON He came to point where he is ready just to eat the pods fed to the pigs. In our community, we see those who having taken from God and not wanting to have a relationship with Him, find themselves in misery, not unlike the plight of this Jewish man among the swine.

Vs 17 HIS REGRET AND HIS REASONING. Light begins to dawn in this young man's soul. He thinks of His father, even as he is perishing with hunger. He is now being honest with himself. "He came to himself."

Vs 18-19 HIS REPENTANCE. He rehearses what he will say to his father, acknowledging his unworthiness.

Vs 20 HIS RETURN. The father saw him while he was still a long way off. The Father sees us when we are a far off too.

Vs 21 THE RESTORATION. The father interrupts before the son can even say - Let me be as one of your hired servants.

The father asks for the best robe to be brought to him and the finest ring and the best shoes. Now the Son stands, wearing all these things provided by the Father. What a picture this is of children of God, robed in the robe of righteousness. When He looks at me, He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.

Vs 23-25 THE REJOICING AND THE RESURRECTION. There is great joy in heaven when a sinner repents.

As we see in Vs 25, For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. This is true of every child of God who once was dead in trespasses and sins.

No one has always been a Chrsitian. There must come a time when sinners are brought to their senses and return to God.

In this baptismal service we know that this process is what baptism symbolizes.

[Rom 6:3-4

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.]

[Gal 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.]