“The Prodigal Son, the Waiting Father, and the Elder Brother”

Lesson 21

Praise GOD, that He has a concern for the lost.  We have learned over the last couple of weeks that GOD cares about the ‘dumb’ sheep that wanders off and the ‘voiceless’ coin that is misplaced in the house!  We learned that GOD so loves us, that He has given us the Good Shepherd and the Light of the World to rescue us from being lost. 

We learned that sometimes we are drawn off by distraction, the cares of life, or our own appetites, and we find ourselves lost.  Our intentions were not evil, and in some cases we could argue our desires were even noble, but nevertheless we have been misguided.  Sometimes life just happens, circumstances evolve that we did not cause and cannot control.  Sometimes we are wounded or dropped by people we rely on.   Sometimes we are hurt by the careless and clumsy hands of a man or woman we depend upon as a spiritual examples.  Whatever the case, however it is we are lost, be encouraged my brothers and sisters that GOD loves you and He sent Jesus for people in our particular condition – those who have wandered, those fallen, and those who have been dropped!  As we have found ourselves lost, He has given us the one who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6)

Through our lesson this week, it is my prayer that we will experience, to another degree, the measure and breadth of GOD’s great love toward us.  He not only cares for those who wander out of ignorance, or those who are dropped or misplaced, but He also loves and cares for those who run away – those that knowingly and willingly turn their faces from Him.  What a mighty GOD we serve, how amazing is His grace and His patience toward us! 

 

Tonight we will study the parable of The Prodigal Son, the Waiting Father, and the Elder Brother.

 

Let’s read our text together.

 

¹¹   And he said, A certain man had two sons: ¹²   And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ¹³   And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. ¹⁴   And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. ¹⁵   And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶   And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. ¹⁷   And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸   I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹   And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ²⁰   And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹   And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. ²²   But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³   And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: ²⁴   For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. ²⁵   Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. ²⁶   And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. ²⁷   And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. ²⁸   And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. ²⁹   And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: ³⁰   But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. ³¹   And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. ³²   It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Luke 15:11-32

A Closer Look

        This parable is perhaps one of the most familiar of all the parables we have studied to this point.  It is, in my opinion, one of the richest texts in the New Testament as it gives us so much insight into the magnitude of GOD’s love for us.  This parable creates for us one of the starkest images of GOD’s grace, and epitomizes the ‘good news’ of the Gospel that Jesus demonstrated as He called to himself people that no one else would regard – the prostitute, the tax collector, those possessed by demons, the lame, and the blind! In the last several lessons, I am certain that we could find ourselves in the words that Jesus spoke.  This week is no exception, as we view this text, let’s also look at ourselves.  It’s my prayer that we will learn that as long as we live, it is never too late to come home!

        Make special note as we begin, that this lesson is about a man who had two sons. Often times the other son is overlooked as we are awed by the father’s love toward the younger son.  There are valuable lessons we can learn from each of them.

 

Because this text is so long, we will look at in 3 sections.  The first section we will look at covers verses 11-20a.  In the second section we will look at verses 20b-24.  In the final section we will examine verses 25-32. 

1. The Prodigal Son

What words would you use to describe this young man? 

How are we like this young man? 

When the young man came of age, he took what was his, by right, and he left home. What do we learn about ourselves from this? 

Do you think the young man understood the value of his inheritance?  How do we undervalue what GOD has given us and what danger do we face if we don’t know the value of our inheritance?  

 

The young man wasted his inheritance and found himself in a place that he did not belong.  Can you identify with this?  Please share your experience.  

When this young man, realized his folly, the text says that ‘he came to himself.’  This is a loaded statement.  This young man’s awareness of his depravity incited a response from his heart while he lay face down in the hog pen.  Why is this significant?  Why is this awareness so important if we are to come to Our Father?  

After ‘he came to himself’, the young man did something immediately; what did he do?  When you become aware that you are out of place, what response do you have?

2.    The Waiting Father

 

There are several things that we learn about GOD’s nature in this text.  GOD has given mankind a free will.  Some wish that He didn’t give us such a gift but love is a virtual impossibility without it.  GOD did not make us as mindless, robotic beings.  We are free moral agents, and He allows us to choose.  How is this demonstrated in our text? 

 

We learn at a very early age what ‘mine’ is and we are made keenly aware of the importance of our individual rights even to a flaw at times.  Can you think of a situation where this might be a problem? 

 

        As the perfect example of parenthood, GOD allows us to make decisions.  He does not shield us completely from the consequences, but He also does not withdraw from us or cut us off – even when we take what He has given us and squander it.  Thank GOD for His Amazing Grace!

        In a like manner, when our children learn what’s right and wrong, we must allow our children to make their decisions.  We cannot shield them from the consequences and we should not try to.  However, if they ever decide to come home again, or reconcile the relationship and mend their ways, we must do just as GOD does for us.  If our children separate themselves from us, we must not let the separation be reciprocal! 

 

What did the young man say to his father when he met him in the road? 

 

The young man didn’t even desire to be considered as a son because of his sins, he would consent to the life of servant.  What does this tell us about the change in our hearts that comes with a genuine experience with Christ and the contriteness of our hearts?

        Isn’t it wonderful to know that GOD will meet us in the road?  He doesn’t wait for us to get to church or get right, but He will meet us in the road!  Thank GOD for Jesus who meets us just as we are, wherever we are, but he doesn’t leave us just as we are!

 

3.  The Elder Brother

 

        Remember our lesson is about two sons.  There was the older son that stayed at home with his father (remember it’s possible to be lost in the house).  When the young man returned, the older brother was in the field.  As the older brother approached the house, there was a party going on.  Drawing closer, he asked what was causing such a stir.  In that moment, we find the flaw that infects many of us who have been faithful (or at least given the appearance of faithfulness), and not committed the visible sins that others have.  We witness a type of pride and insolence that comes out in what most of us would consider righteous frustration. 

 

What words would you use to describe the elder brother?

 

We should expect that the older brother would be happy to see his younger brother.  He is not.  What is the source of his discontentment?

 

Have you ever been disgusted with GOD’s gracious treatment of others, enraged by His forgiveness, exacerbated by His kindness and patience to others?  Ever felt that someone else received something better suited for you?

 

Have you grown to the point of being able to rejoice in others good fortune, and GOD’s work in other’s lives, or do you more frequently groan about how unfairly you have been treated?

The father blesses the older son and tells him, ‘thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.’  What a wonderful way to respond to the complaints of his son.  Have you ever complained about another’s advances?  Have you ever attempted to count your own blessings, before coveting another's?

        How does another person’s blessing interfere with the Father’s ability to be a blessing to you also?  It does not!  The entire house and all its wares belong to the Father.  If you stay with Him, you have access to all that He possesses!  The older brother, as we frequently do, needed a reminder!  Perhaps the most poignant lesson we learn from the elder brother is this: In order to be a son, you must also be a brother! 

 

The invitation is the same! Whether you have turned away from Our Father and wasted your inheritance, or stayed at home with the Father but had a heart that was far away from Him, the invitation is the same – Enter into my joy!  All that labor and are heavy laden – I say come!  Those faithful servants who have nearly fainted – come!  Those wayward children, who have been drawn into the snare of the enemy – come!  You wounded, weary, and sad – come!  Sin stained and guilt covered – come!  Starving and thirsty – come!  Naked and cold – come!   There is plenty room in My house, saith the LORD!