Grace and Peace to you from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in
the truth, for His word is truth. Amen
The Fourth
Sunday in Lent (2010)
A Homecoming Celebration
Luke
15:1-3, 11-32 (ESV)
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all
drawing near to hear him. [2] And the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats
with them.”
[3] So he told them this parable:
And he said, “There was a man who had two
sons. [12] 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.
[13] 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. [14] And when he had spent
everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one
of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed
pigs. [16] And he was longing to be fed
with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
[17] “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! [18] I will
arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you.
[19] I am no longer worthy to be called
your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ‘ [20] 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.
[21] 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.’
[22] 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. [23] And bring the fattened
calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
[24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found.’ And they began to celebrate.
[25] “Now his older son was in the field,
and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants and
asked what these things meant. [27] 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.’ [28] But he was angry and refused to go in.
His father came out and entreated him, [29] 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. [30] But when this son of yours came, who has
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ [31] And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always
with me, and all that is mine is yours.
[32] It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was
dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
The parable of the Prodigal Son is the crown of all parables because this parable presents both conversion and justification in a way that is easy to understand. In the parable, our Lord says very little, but all that He says deeply stirs the soul to the plight of all mankind.
Although the primary focus of the parable is the son who decides to turn his back on his family and seek the pleasures of the world, our Lord Jesus begins by saying, “There was a man who had two sons” (v. 11). Thus, some have even referred to this parable as the parable of the Two Lost Sons. The elder son is a picture of the work-righteous Pharisees and the younger son of publicans and sinners; two classes of people the Jews of Jesus’ day could readily identify. The younger son typifies the sinner who turns from God only to run face on into an uncaring world; a world which knows only of satisfying itself; consuming all that comes into contact with it. The elder son is the type of self-righteous sinner who outwardly appears as a devout member of the church, but inwardly is without faith; a true hypocrite. Both are lost, and both must return if they are to be saved. One did, however, there is an open question on the other.
Usurping the normal manner in which a son receives his father’s inheritance, the younger son brazenly asks his father to give him his inheritance. In essence he said, “I don’t want to wait until you die, I want my inheritance now. I have plans which do not include staying here with you any longer. It is my intention to leave the family and make it in the world on my own, but I need my inheritance to get established.” His heart was no longer with his father or family, it was focused on a worldly existence, outside of his father’s love, care, guidance and control.
His father consents to the younger son’s demand, but he had to have been heart-broken. Thus, he divided his property, giving the younger son his share, which amounted to one-third of the inheritance. Jewish law gave the first-born son a double portion of any inheritance. Since there were two sons, the younger would rightly receive one-third.
There is no question that the younger son had no right to ask for his inheritance before his father’s death, but he did. However, God divides much in the same manner as does the father in this parable. Therefore, this parable is illustrating a reality of life. God gives without protest, even to the sinner. He gives life, health, earthly wisdom, earthly wealth, and a thousand other advantages. Throughout all these blessings, God also gives the sinner a strong reminder of His presence and of His heavenly home. He says to you through the apostle Paul, “do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 ESV).
Jesus continues, “Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country” (v. 13). This delay referred to by our Lord is a fine touch. Although the younger son had, in his heart, separated from his father, he waits a few days before he makes the break outward. Is this not the way a sinner quits God’s house, the church, and the communion of saints? Ask any sad-hearted pastor or parent for the details of an apostate child or congregation member. Swayed by the glitter of the world, far too many children seek the “far country” for its pleasures, its promises, and its deceiving attractions. Moreover, ask any Christian who has experienced the pain of schism. Much like the case of the younger son; first comes lovelessness; the unwillingness to forgive and reconcile, then comes the separation. So the flame ever attracts the moth ― only to scorch and kill it.
Our Lord doesn’t spend much time in explaining how the younger son fared, he fared badly. He squandered his money on fast women and fast living and soon found himself penniless in an unfriendly world. With nowhere to turn, the younger son hires himself out as a keeper of pigs. This is the insult of insults for a Jew. The younger son has sunk as low as he can get. He has lost all, he has no support, and he is so hungry that he is willing to eat hog’s feed. He now has no inner support, nothing spiritual to keep him upright; his soul has nothing to comfort it in his affliction. When the money, pleasures, and friends are gone, most men conclude that all is gone and life is not worth living. When men reach this stage, the devil is ready to reap his harvest ― suicide is the next step. However, our Lord has other plans.
Having reached the depths of degradation the young man, for the first time, sees his sinful self and understands the enormity of his sin. He also realizes that he does not have the resources to make his situation better. He has, as Jesus says, “came to himself” (v. 17). This is the moment of conversion for the sinner. What the younger son did was not rational, but he has come to his senses, he has become rational, right-minded, properly balanced again, this is conversion.
It is living an unbalanced life to live separate from God. Without God we lack a moral compass to point us in the right direction, the road to heaven. Therefore we wander aimlessly through the world living only for what pleasures might come our way. This is our lot until our heavenly Father has mercy on us and brings us to repentance. Converted by the power of the Holy Spirit and cleansed through the waters of Baptism, we then live as children of God with purpose and direction; purpose and direction that are given us through His Holy Word. This is the condition the younger son now finds himself in. A condition that says, “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.” (vv. 18-19)
With what strength was still in him, the younger son leaves the field of pigs and heads for home. What thoughts must have raced through his mind as he traveled the roads to his father’s house? “Will my father take me back? Will he let me hire on as one of his servants? Surely, he will; he is my father after all. But I abandoned him. I took advantage of his love. I told him by word and deed that I didn’t love him. Oh, please father, do not hold these sins against me.” These and many more thoughts plagued him as he made his way to his father’s house. He couldn’t even speak of it as his home because he had abandoned it.
Oh, what foolish thoughts go through the mind of the sinner! Separated and alienated from God, the sinner cannot comprehend the love of God. Yet God has made its clear, “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die?” (Ezekiel 33:11 ESV) As if he had heard these very words, the younger son turned back, back to his father, back to where he remembered peace and plenty.
While he was still a long way from his father’s house, his father saw him coming and even though the younger son had abandoned him, the father’s love for him was never in question. Filled with compassion, mercy, and love, his father races to where he is, embracing him and showering him with fatherly kisses. The younger son doesn’t know it yet, but he has just experienced the opening chorus in his father love filled Homecoming Celebration.
Certainly this reception was not expected. For filled with remorse and sincerely penitent, the younger son says, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’ (v. 21). Oh, how many can say that very thing to God the Father? We are all unworthy of our heavenly Father’s love and mercy. All of us, like the younger son, have sinned against God and do not deserve even the remotest kindness shown to a hired servant. Yet, God the Father, has had mercy upon us and for the sake of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, willingly and readily embraces us showering us with His love; forgiving all our sins.
Each time we sin, we are like the younger son, demanding to have our way, telling the Father, we don’t need Him anymore. Then, when the glitter of our sin wears off and we are filled with contrition and sorrow for our sinfulness, we are brought to repentance which leads us to turn to God seeking His forgiveness. There is no hesitation, God forgives all who repent. He lifts the penitent sinner in His loving arms, embracing them, showering them with His love, all for the sake of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15) who willing sacrificed His life so we the younger heirs could obtain our inheritance, life eternal in heaven.
Our Lord tells us the father ordered his servants to, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet” (v. 22). Moreover, he orders that the fattened calf be slaughtered and a feast prepared to celebrate the return of his younger son. He says, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (v. 24). The Homecoming Celebration begins!
This
Homecoming Celebration is the
sinner’s absolution, pardon, justification, adoption, redemption, and reception
as a child of God all rolled into one. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Holy
Spirit says to you, “for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered
me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10 ESV). Your
righteousness is that which comes from the Lord, Jesus Christ.
The older brother, who had remained tending to his fathers business, was upset and angry when he found that his younger brother had returned and Dad was throwing a party in his honor. How could he? Wasn’t he the only one who had remained faithful, who stayed behind shunning the world? In fact, he was so angry he wouldn’t attend the festival celebrating the return of his brother. We hear the boasts of the self-righteous in the voice of the older brother.
Sadly this scene is played out all too often within homes and churches. Often times someone will fall prey to sin and err, committing what some consider being an offense. Filled with indignation and self-righteousness, those claiming to be offended get angry and refuse to forgive and reconcile. This is the older brother; this is the Pharisees of verse 2.
Surrounded by tax collectors and sinners, our Lord Jesus was eager to speak to them. When the Pharisees see this they grumble; “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (v. 2). The older brother says to the dad, I have been faithful to you all these years, but you never gave me a banquet. Grumble, grumble, grumble!
Oh
how easy it is to feel and act self-righteous. However, our Lord Jesus reminds
us, “Let
him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7 ESV).
The older brother had not abandoned his father, but can there be any doubt he
was not sinless.
This part of the parable is specifically aimed at the Pharisees and scribes who looked down on those they considered sinners, refusing to help them in any way. They were so filled with their importance and self-righteousness that they completely forgot the love of God to them. Our Lord Jesus reminds us of the consequence of this sinful attitude, “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:11-14 ESV).
Our Lord says to each of you, turn away from the world and come home to Him. Only in Him will you find all your wants fulfilled. Moreover, only in Him will you find life, life eternal in heaven for all who believe. The younger son has been redeemed. He has seen the allurement of the world and knows it brings only misery and eternal condemnation in hell. He listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit and was brought to repentance.
This salvation is meant for you as well. Our Lord Jesus offers His substitutionary death for all mankind. Only through Him can one find the Father. Only in Him are you redeemed and forgiven for your abundant sinfulness. When you find yourself overwhelmed with sin, worry, or despair, then like the younger son, turn from your despairing position to the Lord. He will show you the way to happiness. He will show you the way to love, and forgiveness. He will offer you forgiveness and eternal life through the feast of His body and blood shed for you on the altar of the cross. Moreover, you will receive your heavenly inheritance when He takes you to the perpetual heavenly feast where you will be welcomed by the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and by all the saints who have gone before. Embraced in His merciful arms and shrouded by His love you will bask in the glow of His eternal Homecoming Celebration forever. Amen.
May the Peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen