JESUS TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE SONS
JESUS TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE SONS • Sermon • Submitted
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JESUS TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE SONS
JESUS TELLS THE PARABLE OF THE SONS
Context:
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Key players in the story:
Younger son - sinners and tax collectors
(Tax collectors were considered traitors to the Jews for they ripped off the Jews to pay Rome and kept the difference for themselves)
Father - God
Older son - Pharisees and Scribes
Parable of the lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-7)
Principle - Jesus cares for all his sheep and if one is lost, he goes the extra mile to rescue them and rejoices once he has found him. Represents the sinner who may not know he is lost.
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10)
Principle - Woman searches diligently for that which she once had but was lost and once she finds it, rejoices with her friends. Represents the person who realizes something is lost.
“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Notice in both parables, “sinner who repents”
In the Parable of the two sons we see Jesus compares the “younger” (sinners and Tax Collectors) with the “older” (Pharisees and Scribes). Jesus is teaching that all people are important to Him and our attitude should be the same.
In Luke 16 we see the parable of the unrighteous steward (Faithfulness) and the Rich man (Pharisees) and Lazarus (Sinner/Tax Collector) concerning there acceptance of God’s son
In Luke 17 we see the real issue with the Pharisees (as he speaks to his disciples) - Lack of Repentance and Forgiveness.
SELFISHNESS LEADS TO REBELLING AGAINST THE FATHER’S GOODNESS (Luke 15:11-13)
In the book of Judges, all the bloodshed and perversion was the result of every person doing what seemed right in his own eyes (Judg 17:6, 21:25) Otherwise known as MORAL RELATIVISM. In a sense, all sin is a form of moral relativism because we are deciding in the moment that our desires take precedence over God’s glory and the needs of others. What right or wrong becomes subservient to our wishes and whims.
The son realized his Father’s wealth
The son was not content with his current life
The son leaves his home - not realizing it’s safety and protection - to were there was no accountability
The son had no comprehension of the value of what he had (loose living)
QUESTION: Why did the father give in to the desires of the son even though he knew it would probably lead to destruction?
ANSWER: Free will - sometimes we must learn the hard way
2. SORROW LEADS TO REPENTANCE IN LIGHT OF THE FATHERS GOODNESS (Luke 15:17-24)
D.L. Moody once said “Every sinner has a false idea of God: he things God is not ready and willing to forgive him. He says it is not justice. But God wants to deal in mercy…God stands ready and willing to receive you to His bosom and to forgive you freely”
Once the son had lost everything, a severe famine comes. (When you fall away from God, things only get worse)
The son is humbled by being forced to work with pigs - an unclean animal - a horror for the Jew (this is how the Pharisees saw sinners and tax collectors)
The son realizes the swine have it better than him
The son then comes to his senses (much like the sinners and tax collectors who seek after and eat with Jesus)
The son realizes that his Father’s servants have it better then he does. He remembers the “good ole days’
He realizes his sin against the Father and Heaven
He realizes his worthlessness to be called a son since he squandered his Father’s wealth so he justifies in his mind that maybe he could “earn” forgiveness
In his ignorance, the prodigal son believed that the only way of being acceptable to his Father was as someone working for his living to pay off his debt. THIS IS A WORKS BASED MENTALITY TOWARD SALVATION. It permits mercy without grace.
How many believers think of themselves the same way? After learning salvation is free, they feel they have to earn something in order to be accepted as a beloved son. We simply cannot fathom the possibilities of His Grace!
QUESTION: We see the son as the prodigal, wasting his inheritance on wild living. But perhaps the Father is the prodigal, “wasting’ his goodness to his lost son? Your thoughts?
ANSWER: This giving from the Father is reflective of His grace toward us. Grace is never wasted.
GRACE: “Unmerited favor”, “God’s goodness to undeserved man”
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
The Father was looking for His son
The Father ran to his son
The Father kissed and embraced his son BEFORE the son repents
The Father didn’t see his son as a sinner but as his son - ignored the son’s request (for his own good)
Without hesitation, the Father gives him the best robe
Law of First’s in the Bible
First mention of robes in bible have to do with the priesthood (Exodus 28:4) KJV
Represents holiness unto the Lord
(Joseph had a coat of many colors)
Father gives him a ring and Sandals
First time ring is used in the Bible it is from Pharaoh - he gives it to Joseph (Gen 41:42)
Ring represents Authority
First time shoes mentioned in the Bible is with Abram
that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
Represents Prosperity
Father brings fattened calf and celebrates
First mention Genesis 18:7-8. Abraham makes a feast for the angels and Theophany before the destruction of Sodom
Fatten Calf represents Fellowship
Holiness, Authority, Prosperity and Fellowship are all characteristic of the Beleiver
GRACE: “Unmerited favor”, “God’s goodness to undeserved man”
3. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO RESENTING THE FATHER’S GOODNESS (Luke 15:25-32)
Older son (Pharisees) was in the field working
Older son was not aware or concerned about the younger son
Older son was angry that Father would fellowship with younger son (sinners and Tax collectors)
Older son not willing to associate with the younger son
Father pleaded with older son to join in the celebration with younger son
Older son justified his position through self-righteousness
Older son justifies himself by comparing himself with the younger son and how the younger son devoured the Fathers wealth wrongfully
Jesus is pleading with the Pharisees to show grace to the sinners for they were lost but now are found. Remember the first two parables: Lost sheep and Lost coin - Joy when one repents in heaven
Father tells the older son all he has is his. This can also apply to Christians.
Through the older son’s disdain for the younger and his conversation with the Father we can decipher his worldview; life is a spiritual meritocracy, where God’s holiness is to be taken seriously and obedience to the law of God should earn you good standing in the world. On the surface, this worldview sounds worthwhile, but in the end, it comes up short because it fails to take seriously God’s goodness toward us in the gospel,. In fact it rejects the need for the gospel and leads to resenting those who fall on God’s Grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
QUESTION: What is the balance between Grace and works in the Believer’s life?
ANSWER: It has to do with perspective, and effort. Are you basing your relationship on what you do or who you are in Christ? Are you trying to overcome your sin by your own means or are you living by faith in His finished work?
Therefore, you will do good works because your a Christian but you will be saved because of your faith in Jesus Christ. For the sinner he does good works to earn salvation which in the end will prove to be futile.
Later in Luke 17 Jesus says
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
“And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
QUESTION: What does it mean to repent?
ANSWER: To turn away from sin
QUESTION: Do you believe a person can sin against you seven times in one day and be sincere in his repentance?
ANSWER: You should. Jesus forgives you!
The Pharisees had a hard time forgiving sinners and Tax Collectors. Jesus taught his disciples to forgive them always
Conclusion
1. SELFISHNESS LEADS TO REBELLING AGAINST THE FATHER’S GOODNESS
2. SORROW LEADS TO REPENTANCE IN LIGHT OF THE FATHERS GOODNESS
3. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO RESENTING THE FATHER’S GOODNESS