The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son

I. [Luke 15:1-3,11-24]

            The son in today’s Gospel, by the time he came to his senses, must’ve been in ragged clothing – worn and filthy from toiling in the pig pens – must’ve had none of the family rings, jewelry, or ornaments left, having spent it all. His shoes must’ve been worn from work and from the journey. And he was hungry – “longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”

            Upon his return, his father puts on him the best robe, a ring on his finger, shoes on his feet, and kills the fattened calf to eat. Yet, these gifts were about more than food and clothing. His son “was dead, and is alive again… was lost, and is found.”

            Let’s back up, briefly, and remind ourselves of what we read. Jesus was teaching. The sinners and tax collectors were all gathering around Him to hear His words. The Pharisees and scribes – religious leaders and experts – grumbled and complained, “This man, Jesus, receives sinners and eats with them!”

            Jesus then tells a series of parables – stories which make a point about the kingdom of God – ending with this parable, which is often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

            The dad in the parable has two sons, an older and a younger. The younger son, as we heard, asked for his share of his inheritance early, his share of the family wealth – which, in my understanding, sons could do at the time.

            The father agrees. The son departs. In a far country, he lives lavishly and recklessly – which is what prodigal means, “a lavish spender”. He squanders, wastes as if it were meaningless, all that he had received from his family. And, worse yet, he spent it on things, perhaps, that were not good – “devoured your property with prostitutes”, according to the older son.

            That this younger son, hungry and poor because of his bad decisions, is reduced to hiring himself out to work in the pig pens – and desires even to eat pig’s food – probably does point to him having gotten wrapped up in morally unclean things, since pigs, to them, were unclean animals. He has dropped to unmentionable lows.

            For a time, it’s like he’s blinded to the wrongness of what he’s been doing, but then he realizes it – “When he came to himself” – when he came to his senses – “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.”’

            This younger son is starting to understand his wrongs – or at least he is getting tired of the effects – but he doesn’t yet understand his father’s love. Will this father receive him back as only a servant? Will his father knock him down a peg?

            The son is returning, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion” – and before the son has a chance to come near and say any of the things he had planned to say, his father “ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

            The son starts to speak, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” – but before he can try to make his deal about becoming a servant, his father is already lifting him back up to the heights of sonship – “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet” – “bring the fattened calf and kill it” – “let us eat and celebrate” – “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

            A robe, a ring, shoes, and food. Dressed in his father’s nobility; a ring symbolizing his father’s authority, which a son has, a prince; shoes to relieve him from the journey, and food – to nourish him – but, more than that – food to celebrate. A feast of honor. The son is a son again. All is forgotten. Where that son has been goes unmentioned. The son is forgiven and loved.

            The father in this parable is God the Father. You all have a father like this. Whether you have one like this on earth or not, you do have one forever – God your Father in heaven, your Creator, who gave His Son as your Redeemer. God who is with you always as true Father.

            “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love” – yet, before you even get back, God your Father is already running to you. In fact, all He has done for you is already done in the work of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross:

II. [2 Corinthians 5:18-21]

                “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself… that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them… We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

                On the cross, Jesus became your sin – “for our sake God made Him to be sin Who knew no sin” – Jesus wore the sins of your flesh as His robe and was clothed in the muck of your heart’s pigsty – so that, in Him, you are clothed in the clean robe of His righteousness which covers all your sin – “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

                “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness” [Isaiah 61:10] – “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” [Romans 4:7-8; Psalm 32:1-2]

                The invisible robe of Jesus’ righteousness was laid over you in your Baptism – and, more than a ring, He put His name on you – and, more than shoes, He has given you the beautiful feet of those who can proclaim this good news [Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15].

Good news which is a priceless comfort to those who see their sins and their need for a Savior. But news which frustrates the hardened heart:

III. [Luke 15:25-32]

                The father’s older son was in the field, heard the celebration, and grew angry – “Father, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me such a celebration – but for this other son of yours, who squandered your property, you celebrate and throw a feast.”

                Remember what prompted this parable – the Pharisees grumbling that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them. In the parable, these Pharisees are the older son - those who “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” [Luke 18:9]

                Now, it can be helpful to understand, first, what God’s forgiveness does not mean. God’s forgiveness does not mean that He doesn’t right wrongs or bring justice to evil.

                God does care about righting wrongs – because He loves our neighbor, and us, and all those who are sinned against. We can ask God that wrongs against us be righted. And we can serve Him in callings or causes which right wrongs and bring justice.

                But the knowledge of God’s patience and forgiveness toward sinners – including toward the chief of sinners; “Chief of sinners though I be” – does put a new heart into the situation.

                However, what’s going on with this older son? It’s personal. He’s saying what I’m sure you sometimes say: “I did everything right growing up. And still, I follow the rules. But God wants to be just as good to this person who hasn’t done what I’ve done.”

                Well, let’s not be mad at God’s generosity. His generosity in grace toward another does not rob any of His grace from you. And all of His grace is undeserved, including in you.

                But the father in this parable is patient toward both sons. He speaks peace to the older son, “You are always with me and all that is mine is yours.” Be glad and celebrate. Your brother lives.

                Rest assured that Jesus, the Son of God, has died upon the cross for both the younger-son in you and the older-son in you – for both the prodigal and the pharisee, which are in us all. You were once dead and now are alive. You were lost and now are found. Thanks be to God. Amen.