Heart of the Father

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Now let’s look at this parable, most of us are familiar with the story and recognize the younger brother who sinned and came back. This is the typically way we look at this and the typical way it is preached. We are going to look at this a little different today.

How many sinners are mentioned in this parable?

We have the obvious sinner- the younger son.

Is there any other sinner here? What about the older brother?

The younger brother demanded his inheritance before it was time to receive it then squandered everything on foolish living.

Again we recognize this man as the obvious sinner of the story. He is the type of person many Christians today would look down on and shrivel in disgust when they come into the church because they smell literally or they smell of their sin.

We have to recognize the older son as a sinner as well though as well.

He never demanded his inheritance early and he lived under his father’s rules according to verse 29. Yet even though he never left the father and spent time under his rules he was angry when he found out the celebration was for his lost brother who had been considered dead to his father.

This man did not have the heart of the father.

We may not be sinning outwardly like the younger son but as sons and daughters of God we have to know that it is not just living under God’s rules but having the heart of the father and make sure we are not sinning on the inside.

Just like the repentant sinners , the younger son turned 180 degrees back to home, back to the father. That change for them is not just a stopping of the bad living they are doing in their life styles but a change in their heart as well.

The older brother proclaimed his righteousness, pushed judgement on his brother and never lifted a finer to bring back his little lost brother.

We cannot be like the self-righteous brother against any man.

Luke 15:1-7

God has already rejoiced when you came to him but God is going to not worry about his children who is already safe while he reaches out with open arms to the lost so they are too saved by grace.

How often do we talk badly about the people around us or even leaders in the church or even politicians?

What would happen if we spent as much if not more time praying over the people instead of talking horribly about them and cursing them because of their actions and lives and decisions they make?

How would our lives be different if we had the heart of the father toward lost children rather than the heart of the older son?

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