““The greatest short story The greatest short story in the world”in the world”

• Lk.15:1-2, the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes toward lost people

– 3-7, lost sheep

– 8-10, lost coin

– 11-24, lost son

• First two: the seeking love of God

• Third: the human side (e.g., repentance)

• In each: the owner’s self-sacrificing care

Lk.15:• 12, Dt.21:17

• 13, Ep.2:17

– The gathering quickly became a scattering

– Prodigal: one who does not save

– Aristotle: A mixture of intemperance and prodigality

• 14, coincidences reveal the working of providence

Lk.15:• 15-16, fair-weather friends

– Freedom from righteousness is slavery to sin

– The whole heathen world at this time asked, “Who will show us any good?”

– Weariness, despair, and suicide were universal

• 17-20a

– Any change would be a relief

Lk.15:

• 20b, Ac.20:37

– A true penitent grieves not for what A true penitent grieves not for what he he lostlost, but for what he , but for what he diddid

• 21-22, actions speak louder than words

• 23, a special occasion

• 24, explains and justifies the Lord’s kindness to outcasts and sinners

II How The Younger How The Younger Brother TalkedBrother Talked

1. ForFor himself, 12: “give me…” – The “profit” became a poison

(Ro.1:24-28)– Thinking only about himself, he fails

to see the grief he causes his father• In God’s house; far from GodIn God’s house; far from God

– The selfish person eventually brings the worst grief on himself • Some must learn the hard waySome must learn the hard way

2. ToTo himself, 17-18a: “I perish…”

– Came to himself = took stock of life• He didn’t do this while partying

• He realized his spiritual condition: “I perish”

– Ro.6:23. Ep.2:1; 5:14; 1 Pt.2:25

• He realized the benefits of his father’s house. Am.8:11

– Self-examination is taking spiritual inventory. 2 Co.13:5

3. AgainstAgainst himself, 18b-21: “I have sinned…am not worthy…”

– With realization came determination

– Note what he did not say: • “If I have sinned”

• “Maybe I have sinned”

• “Some think I have done wrong”

• “I made a mistake, but nobody’s perfect”

IIII How The How The Older Brother TalkedOlder Brother Talked

1. AgainstAgainst his father

– 26: with suspicion. 1 Tim.6:4

– 28: with anger

• Instead of going to his father to discuss it, he pouts

• Vv. 20, 28 (Lk.13:34)

– 29b: with complaining

2. ForFor himself, 29a: with self-righteousness

– He imagines the best about himself

– Vv. 1-2; Ro.10:1-2

– The younger son confesses w/o excuse; the older boasts w/o confession

– His relation to his father is more like a slave than a son

3. AgainstAgainst his brother

– 30: with contempt: “This son of yours”

– 30: with slander

• It is easier to confess to God than to many a man 2 Sm.24:14

IIIIII How The Father TalkedHow The Father Talked– With gracegrace, 22: marks of sonship

• Only Only after after the son talked against the son talked against himself did someone talk himself did someone talk for for himhim (16, 22-23)

– With joyjoy, 23; 31-32 (cf. v.10)

• The issue is joy

– With restorationrestoration, 24

• The father gained a son; the older son, a brother

IVIV LessonsLessons

1. There is no sin that the blood cannot 1. There is no sin that the blood cannot save save ifif we are willing to repent we are willing to repent

– The younger brother seemed to have strayed too far to return

– Our Father supplies the grace • The parable of the Loving Father

– We supply the repentance. The order: – SinSin (12-13), MiseryMisery (14-16),

RepentanceRepentance (17-20), ForgivenessForgiveness (20-24)

2. The far country…2. The far country…

– teaches us more than we want to know

– takes us farther than we want to go• PovertyPoverty

• DiseaseDisease

• ShameShame

• AddictionAddiction

• GuiltGuilt

• CondemnationCondemnation

The Easy Road

• At first, the world served his pleasures; at last, he became its slave

• ““I’ve found the things of God are often I’ve found the things of God are often very hard to do at the beginning, but very hard to do at the beginning, but they are very easy and peaceful in the they are very easy and peaceful in the end. While the wrong choices are so end. While the wrong choices are so easy to make at the beginning, they easy to make at the beginning, they end up so complicated and full of end up so complicated and full of difficulties and regrets later”difficulties and regrets later”

3. Our spiritual condition 3. Our spiritual condition depends on our attitude…depends on our attitude…

– Self Self

– Others Others

– God God

• ““The first sign of going wrong is The first sign of going wrong is yearning for spurious liberty” yearning for spurious liberty”

• ““He who would not be ruled by God He who would not be ruled by God is compelled to serve the devil”is compelled to serve the devil”

4. It is easier to see the faults of 4. It is easier to see the faults of others – and more fun too!others – and more fun too!

– Self-righteousness is sin as well as unrighteousness

– Mt.21:…31-32

– The one who apparently did not stray, ended up being the one far from the Father

5. It is easier to forgive ourselves 5. It is easier to forgive ourselves than to forgive othersthan to forgive others

– Mt.20:…14

– The Jews were not impoverished when God extended His love to Gentiles

• The Conclusion: The Conclusion: – The Pharisees and Scribes would The Pharisees and Scribes would

have to write ithave to write it