The Prodigal Sons

The Prodigal Sons

March 18, 2007 (Lent 4)

Rev. Steven D. Spencer

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 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. 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. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. "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! 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."' 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. 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.'

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. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 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. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

In today's lesson Jesus is addressing the tax collectors and the Pharisees - two uniquely different groups, both with uniquely different temperaments and work ethics. Yet they suffer from the same sin. We suffer from that sin also. See if you can spot that sin.

Let's start by examining the youngest brother, most of us are a little familiar with his story. He's the impatient, self-centered child who goes to his father one day and demands his half of the inheritance-even though his father is clearly alive and well. The words he uses tells us about him. 'Father, give me my share of the estate. Other Bible versions say: "Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me." The custom of that time is like it is now. One receives the inheritance upon the death of the benefactor. It falls from one generation to the next.

This young impetuous youth had violated so many rules of decency that it's hard to count them all. Evidently his father was a man of great wealth, most likely a farmer. He had goats, cattle and men to work the fields. He had servants as we see in verse 17 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! His father had many servants. One of things that are common to farming both today and yesteryear is that the wealth is typically tied up in the land. For the son to get his inheritance it would require of disposing of some of the property. This property didn't just support the father and brother, it supported all the hired workers too.

The way a typical farm was setup in those days according to Dr. Arthur Just was that the home of the owner was at the end of a long street. Along that road were the servant's quarters. Nice little homes where each family lived. The servants were treated like family. It was more of an employment that a servant-slave

relationship. This son wasn't just asking the father and brother to give up a portion of the property, but also the ability to provide for the workers welfare. This child was putting himself in front of everybody. And to make matters worse, the simple asking for an inheritance before the father was dead meant he was wishing that the father were dead. It is like saying, hurry up and die, I don't want to wait for you to die so I can finally start living.

The father complies with the son's wishes and gifts the boy a portion of his estate. Once he gets the goods, he leaves home and family behind; since he has so much wealth, he decides that he really doesn't need his father's help or interference anymore-not to mention the rules and all the chores and upkeep of the fields. So, it's off to a far away land, and a chance to live life the way he wanted. No responsibility, no discipline, and no one telling him what to do. Living life large!

Living life large is great while it lasts, and it attracts lots of friends-maybe not the best kind, but you've always got company around you. But it takes a lot of money, so it's only a matter of time until the younger son finds himself dead broke, destitute, and just in time to be in real trouble when a severe famine hits the land. Without much more than the clothes on his back, the boy becomes hungry - employment is hard to find. Finally, he lands a job: He is hired on as pig-keeper, feeder of the swine for a citizen of that country. Anyone who's ever visited a pig farm would probably not consider this ideal employment. But especially for Jesus' hearers that day, pigs are unclean animals. This job is the bottom of the barrel; you just can't go any lower.

Things are so bad for that young boy that he covets the food that the swine get, and would gladly eat their pods if he could. Sometimes, suffering like that has an upside: It makes you remember what you left behind. That's a good thing-especially if you can still go back.

The young man wants to go back, but can he? When you've cut and run with half your father's goods, have you burnt the bridge beyond repair? The son has to come up with a plan. Listen to the strategy he outlines in the text: verse17-19 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men."

It actually sounds reasonable, doesn't it? It's a two-part confession: First, he admits that he's forfeited his right to be a son. Second, he offers to be a servant, to earn his keep. He'll be working for his wages, but he'll be safe again.

But will the father buy it? There's only one way to find out. The son starts the journey home.

While he is still a long way off, the father sees him and has compassion. He runs to his returning son, embraces him and kisses him. It's quite apparent that the father delights to see his son again, and the son begins his confession. He gets through part one just fine: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." This part is true, and the father lets him say it. But before he can ever get to the part about being a servant and earning his keep, the father cuts him off. He calls a servant and says, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Behold the love the father bestows upon his son! No matter what the sin and folly of his boy, his boy is still his child. Therefore, the father will not hear of an offer to become a servant. Instead, he declares that his son who was lost is now found. He that was dead is now alive once again.

Meanwhile what about the older son? The older son is the reliable one. He respects authority and has a good work ethic. In other words, he's the one who's been slaving away in the family fields the whole time that his good-for-nothing brother has been away.

It's the end of another exhausting day for the older brother. As he gets nearer to the house he's surprised to hear music and dancing. There's some celebrating going on, "what could it be?" A servant passing by tells him: "Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf." Your worthless brother has found his way home after losing everything-and the father celebrates? Imagine the older brother's disbelief. "Here I've remained working my fingers to the bone, working late and return to hear celebrating for that lazy, inconsiderate brother." There is no way that the older son is going to be a part of this; there's no way he's going to go into the house. It was the custom for the older brother to toast the welcome for the returning younger child. To not oblige was to bring disgrace to both the father and brother. In his act against his father and younger brother the older one now has become a Prodigal son. He departs from his father's will.

Yet the ever-patient father comes out to plead with this son, now; and he endures the older brother's torrent of frustration. Listen carefully to his words, and see if you can spot the sin: 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' To which the father responds, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found." The manner of love the father lavishes upon his son; despite the son's bitterness, he reminds him that all is his.

The brothers are so different in so many ways: Do they have anything in common-when it comes to sin? The younger brother has a list that includes disrespect of his father, greed, waste and immoral living. The older brother is guilty of anger, resentment and bitterness toward his brother. Beyond these, there's a sin they have in common. Have you spotted it?

Here it is: Both believe that their father's love depends on what they do. Both believe that their son-ship depends on their obedience. The younger son, the Prodigal-son, believes that, because of his sins, he has forfeited his son-ship. Therefore, he hopes only to be hired on as a servant. The older son believes that he's more of a son than his brother because he's been the one who has been working hard in the fields. Therefore, he should be favored because he's earned the right.

Both arguments make sense, but both of them insult the father's love. The younger son is saying, "My father's love is conditional. He cannot love me as a son because I have sinned. Therefore, he will only help me if I earn it." The older son is saying, "My father's love is conditional. He should love me more because I've earned it more." They come at it from two opposing directions, but both are declaring that their father's love is limited, conditional, and changeable based on their merit.

Keep in mind: The father of the parable is none other than God the Father, and those two sons are very much like the tax collectors and the Pharisees. On the one hand, penitent, prodigal tax collectors might well be tempted to think, "I have sinned against God so much that He will only forgive and love me if I prove that I am worthy. Once I earn it, then He will forgive me." On the other hand, the Pharisees are tempted to believe, "God loves us so much more than those tax collectors because, while they've been living a sinful life all this time, we've been hard at work to keep the rules and be good sons." But both have this in common: They both believe that God's love for them is based upon their performance, their merit. It makes sense to sinful ears; but it also says that God's love is conditional, we have to work for it. We can't point fingers at the sons, the Pharisees or the tax collectors, because the same sin lurks in us.

The brothers are sons of the father, why does he love them so? Not because of their obedience or disobedience; it is because they are born his sons. It was not their efforts that made them his children-their membership in the family was a gift beyond their doing. In the parable, the father loves the sons because they are his sons, not because they earn the right. Whether they have a good day or a bad one, the father still loves them.

Why does God love you? "Because you are His sons and daughters." You are sons of God in that you are heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Why are you God's sons and daughters? It's not by your reason or strength, your doing or worthiness. It's because of God's only-begotten Son, has redeemed you on the cross. He has suffered the judgment for the sins that would keep you eternally out of the family of God. It's because the Father has called you His child in baptism and placed a robe of righteousness upon you earned by Jesus Himself.

So rejoice, for Jesus' death was sufficient-the full price for your sin has been paid. He did not die to make you slaves or servants who now must earn their keep. For you were once dead but now are alive, you were lost but are now found. For you are children of God and part of a Heavenly family now and forevermore.