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Scripture Reading
Luke 15
Introduction
Dispute over the Inheritance
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In 2017, 145 cases of disputes between family members over inheritance assets went to court.
This was slightly down from the previous year but the five year trend is increasing.
In July 2015, the Court of Appeal (Ilott v Mitson) awarded an estranged daughter £143,000 after her mother left £486,000 to various animal charities.
The ruling highlighted that even when adult children have been deliberately disinherited, it is still possible for them to challenge the will of the deceased.
(Slide)
The last Parable in
We have come to the final parable in .
We started with “The Lost Sheep”, and then “The Lost Coin”.
Let me ask you, what is this third parable in called in your Bible?
The parable of The Lost Son?
The parable of The Prodigal Son?
May I humbly suggest that the focus of this parable is not so much the Prodigal Son but the gracious Father, and the Father’s interaction with the Prodigal Son and Elder Son.
The Gracious Father
We have been talking about some key principles when interpreting Jesus parables.
For example, we should look for the Single Narrow Dominant Point in a parable and not try to read into every detail a theological meaning.
It is called the “rule of end stress”.
Another important principle is called the “The rule of end stress”.
This is what I believe the real focus of this Parable.
It means that in a parable, as in most stories, the climax comes at the end.
But in the parable of The Lost Son, it is as if we have two critical climaxes to the story.
That reflects the length of this parable.
Firstly, the Father’s reasoning with His younger son.
(Slide)
Luke 15
Secondly, the Father’s reasoning with His eldest son.
(Slide)
Luke 15:28
Both climaxes fit the context in .
(Slide)
One author put it this way,
The father pictures God.
The prodigal symbolizes the lost, especially the tax collectors and sinners of verse 1.
The elder brother represents the self-righteous leadership, the Pharisees and scribes of verse 1 or anyone else who claims to serve God and yet is harsh toward the possibility of forgiveness for sinners.
The major issue is repentance before God and God’s willingness to forgive
May I humbly suggest that a better name for this parable is “The Gracious Father”.
Especially as we look at the Father’s relationship and interaction with the Younger Son and Elder Son.
The Themes of the Parable
The dual theme in the parable is repentance before God and God’s willingness and joy to forgive.
This final parable in is one of Jesus longest ones.
Maybe the best known parable?
The parable highlights the complexities in the Parent-child relationship.
We have here Jesus most comprehensive response to the charge levelled against Him about His association with Tax Collectors and Sinners.
The parable highlights the complexities in a parent-child relationship.
Can you relate to the Father?
And the parable highlights the complexities in sibling rivalries.
Can you relate to the Younger Son?
Or to the Older Son?
It is as relevant today as it was in first century Israel.
Dispute over the Inheritance
In 2017, there were 145 cases of disputes in the UK between family members over inheritance assets went to court.
This was slightly down from the previous year but the five year trend is increasing on the up.
In July 2015, the Court of Appeal (Ilott v Mitson) awarded an estranged daughter £143,000 after her mother left £486,000 to various animal charities.
The ruling highlighted that even when adult children have been deliberately disinherited, it is still possible for them to challenge the will of the deceased.
Complexities in Parent child relationships
Sibling rivaries
As relevant today as in first century Israel.
The Younger Son
The Inheritance
The parable starts with the younger son demanding his inheritance early.
(Slide)
“Give me”
In first century Jewish life, the oldest brother would receive a double portion of the inheritance.
This would allow the older brother to discharge his duties as the new head of the household.
But one can also imagine how this led to sibling rivalries.
In this parable with two sons, the younger would receive 1/3 of the inheritance, whilst the older would get 2/3s.
This lesser portion could be reduced more if daughters and dowries were paid.
The 1/3
One can imagine how this led to sibling rivalries.
It was normal for such division to happen at death but it could happen earlier.
As is the case here.
The younger son leaves with his inheritance.
Raising a Child
Let me just make this comment as the father of two grown adult children.
Raising a child or grandchild is never easy.
It is a joy, it is an honour, and it is a privilege.
It is the best of times and often, the most difficult of times.
We want to protect our children, but sometimes they have to find out the hard way in life.
Norma and I are very proud of our son and daughter, but I assure you it was not always easy.
It was good to have someone say to us now and again, “it will be ok in the end”.
The Gracious Father in this story lets his adult son go off with all his inheritance, and with no conditions.
We want to protect our children, but sometimes they have to find out the hard way.
There are many in the church today, who have children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, even spouses who are not in the church, and want little or nothing to do with the Lord.
This is not a guilt trip.
Each person is responsible before a loving, merciful and just God.
The Father did nothing wrong here and the son still left.
The parable of the Lost Coin give us food for thought for those at home.
The best thing we can do is pray, encourage and be the sermon at home.
But even after all that, a loved one may decide to go, spirtually and even physically.
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