The Lost Son
Luke 15:11-32
Introduction:
1. In v1-2 the Pharisees condemned the Lord for associating with non religious people.
2. But the Lord’s answer to scoffers has always been, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matt 11:28.
a. The Lord spent His life seeking & saving the lost.
b. The Lord’s will is for you to seek & save the lost - ILL: Compel People to the Banquet (Lk 14:16-23).
3. God wants all to enjoy His kingdom - regardless of what they’ve done in the past.
I. v11-16 - He Came to a Distant Country
A. He separated himself from his dad & his family’s godly influence.
1. v12 - Sin is the “I want it now” attitude.
2. Sin is rebellion against God’s plan for you - ILL: The Garden of Eden
(Gen 3:1-19).
3. v13 - Sin separates you from the Lord.
4. v13 - Sin is mismanagement of your Heavenly Father’s property.
B. v15-16 - The result of sin is slopping the hogs!
1. The world believes that slopping the hogs is where it’s at!
a. If I could just get that next fix - that next drink!
b. If I could just get that position at work!
c. If I could just get that house & those fancy “toys”.
d. If I could just win that sweepstakes & have all that money!
e. The world’s best is slopping the hogs!
2. But instead of slopping the hogs you could be sitting at your Heavenly Father’s banquet table!
II. v17-19 - He Came to His Senses
A. v17 - By an awareness of his condition.
1. He became poor & hungry - life on his own wasn’t as glamorous as he had thought.
2. Before you can really appreciate God you need to become aware of your lost condition.
B. v18 - By a resolution to do something about it.
1. v7 & v10 - Repent (μετανοέω) = make up your mind to change your life.
2. He humbled himself & made his own choice to return.
3. Like Jesus he set his face towards Jerusalem (Lk 9:51).
III. v20-24 - He Came to a Compassionate Father
A. Full of forgiveness.
1. This picture is a loving, forgiving God - in contrast to the self righteous Pharisee.
2. I Jn 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
B. Full of joy.
1. v20 - Compassion (σπλαγχνίζω) = his intestines ached.
2. “Threw his arms around him” = literally forcefully fell upon his neck. - ILL: The reception a football player gets from other team members.
3. He kept kissing him.
4. v21 - He was so overjoyed he didn’t give his son the chance to confess his sin!
5. v22-24 - He quickly treated his son richly - robe, sandals, fatted calf, party.
IV. v25-32 - He Came to an Older Brother
A. v29-30 - He came to an older brother full of bitterness & jealousy.
1. I Cor 3:3 says jealousy for a Christians means they are still in the world.
2. I Cor 13:4 says when you’re jealous, you’re not walking in love.
3. Jam 3:14 says when you’re jealous, you’re denying the truth.
B. v31 - When dad died he would possess everything.
1. An oldest son gets a double portion of an inheritance according to the OT.
2. Younger brother had already spend his third so older brother would get everything dad accumulates until he dies; considerably more than they have now!
C. Who do you identify with in this story?
1. The lost sin? If so - come home to a loving heavenly Father.
2. The older brother? If so - you need an attitude check!
3. The abandoned father? If so - make your goal to be like him. Become more like Jesus in our attitudes & relationships.
You have to decide - is this church a country club for saints or a hospital for sinners? Our Lord was the Great Physician & came to seek & to save the lost! It’s time for you to reach out into a dark & immoral society & touch those who are entrapped there!
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