The Prodigals
The Prodigals
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27 "Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
Man=Father
Sons=only two categories of man; saved or lost
Younger vs Older= immature/mature
Estate=two kingdoms; God or World
Distant country= worldly kingdom (place he originated from was of his father)
Squandered wealth (talent, resources)
Severe famine in whole country=a bleak and desolate atmosphere ( devastate or ravage; crushed by grief) = separated from Father
Hired out to others in same country= sought deliverance from someone in same state
Willing to eat pig slop
Came to his senses
Purposed in his heart what he needed to do
He did it
Father sees his humble plight back home afar off
Runs to the prodigal and embraces
Son follows through with repentance
Father celebrates with everyone and adorns son with clothes and jewelry
Meanwhile, faithful son (in deeds) returns from working in the fields
Hears celebration, but asks a servant outside rather than seeing for himself
Becomes angry and refuses to go in to rest, clean up, eat, or celebrate
Father makes a plea for him to come
Son vents about his own deeds and slanders his brother
Father says you were always here, and everything I have is yours...but your brother was dead and is alive again..........if the prodigal son was dead, then there was no hope for the reunion until he saw him returning