The Teachings of Jesus - The Prodigal
Text: Luke 15:11-32 -
The Prodigal – Irresponsible, squanderer, wasteful, useless
Prodigal: characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure –
LAVISH: a prodigal feast., recklessly spending: the prodigal son
yielding abundantly: LUXURIANT —often used of nature: it has
been so prodigal of her bounty
The Occasion
A dinner at the home of the Pharisee
The Pharisees grumble about Jesus
Jesus shares three parables:
The Lost Sheep: Every ‘one’ is important
The Lost Coin: Every ‘one’ is valuable
The Prodigal Son (and the Prodigal Father)
The Prodigal Son
A younger son asks for his inheritance.
He squanders his inheritance.
then..
In misery, the son comes to his senses.
The son returns home for employment.
Footnote:
The younger so’s portion would be 1/3 of the estate. (the older brother gets a double portion)
The Prodigal Father
The father saw him coming
The father had compassion on him
The father ran to him
The father embraced him and kissed him
The father called for a celebration feast
The Elder Son
Comes in from work to the sounds of a party
He is wounded and becomes angry
He confronts his father
The father replies: “Son, you have always been with me,
And all that is mine is yours.”
“But we had to celebrate that your brother
is alive and has returned.”
The Lesson
The tax collectors and sinners are as the younger son.
The Message to them: Repent and return
The Pharisees and the Scribes are as the older son.
All that the father owns will be theirs.
Yet, they are embittered toward even their own kin who return to share in the abundance of the father.
The Application
To those who continue to walk in selfishness and are wasting their life:
REPENT and RETURN To those who nurture a critical and condescending spirit: BE GRATEFUL for what you have received CELEBRATE EVERY ‘ONE’ who REPENTS
In this Season
WELCOME EVERY ‘ONE’
NURTURE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS
SHOW KINDNESS
CELEBRATE THE MOMENTS
DON’T WASTE THE OPPORTUNITIES