The Parable Of Two Sons (1)

Every time I come to a parable of Jesus, I learn more things about Jesus AND MYSELF. Sunday night we studied the most difficult parable Jesus ever gave, the Parable of the Cheating Business Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Tonight we’re going to look at the LONGEST PARABLE Jesus ever told. It is often called The Parable Of The Prodigal (Wandering) Son. It’s found in Luke chapter 15. Please turn there. Read with me:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A certain man had TWO SONS:

Most Bibles have in the heading to this parable, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”. As a result, most Pastors, myself included, have preached this parable as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (though no modern person knows what “Prodigal” means. Here’s what I learned when I studied it:

The word “Prodigal” is found in the Bible right next to the word “Purgatory”. It’s just not there.

Jesus introduces this parable by saying, “A certain man had TWO SONS”. And the truth is, neither son is a prize winner. Jesus leaves the parable open to many applications. Where I’ve often seen the parable used (and I’ve preached it this way myself), the characters are:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is a lost person
The “ELDER SON” (vs 25) is a believer

I have also heard it preached that:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is the sinner needing Grace
The “ELDER SON” is Israel

It can be preached that way. But there is yet another way this text can be preached. Before I tell you that way, let me explain what the main subject, the main point of the parable is. It is this.

God Is Unbelievably Gracious

Throughout this parable (22 verses, 384 words in the King James) that which shows forth is how gracious and kind God is. And this shouldn’t surprise us. The Bible says:

Exodus 34:6 (ESV) The Lord, the Lord, A GOD MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, slow to anger, and ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE and FAITHFULNESS

God ABOUNDS in STEADY LOVE and FAITHFULNESS. What He promises, He will do. When God calls someone to salvation and that person receives the call and responds in faith, God covers them with His Grace. You cannot find but just a few people in the Scripture that God called to salvation who did not fail God in one way or another. And yet, God did not cast them away. They themselves hurt themselves by their stupid actions. But God is faithful, filled with grace.

Psalm 103:8-13 (ESV) The LORD IS MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, slow to anger and ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He DOES NOT DEAL WITH US ACCORDING TO OUR SINS, nor REPAY US ACCORDING TO OUR INIQUITIES. …

If God were to punish us each time we doubted Him, we would be puddles now. Though not every sin has the same weight (for Jesus spoke of the “greater sin” (John 19:11) and “greater punishment” (Luke 12:47-48)),

Every sin separates us from God.

God told His Old Covenant Israel,

Isaiah 59:2 … your INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED YOU FROM YOUR GOD; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that HE WILL NOT HEAR.

Sin does not make God hate His children by faith. But sin separates us from God, taking us to where He cannot commune with us. King David, a child of God, wrote:

Psalm 66:18 If I REGARD (rā’â) iniquity in my heart, the LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME.

Word Study: The word “REGARD” (Hebrew rā’â, Qal Perfect) means “to look at, to observe, to gaze on”. What David is saying is that you know there is sin in your life, but instead of repenting, you dwell on it and in it. You make your peace with it. You get used to it. And doing so takes us far from God.

So I want to go back and talk about the THIRD way to preach this parable. Go back to the beginning. Jesus says:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS:

Let’s consider the parable this way. This is NOT a lost and a saved person. These are TWO SONS. They are not just creations of the CERTAIN MAN or God, but they have been born again into the family of God. The Bible teaches us that when we all enter this world, we enter it physically alive but spiritually dead. We have earthly, physical parents. But God is not our FATHER from birth. He is our CREATOR, but we do not know Him. Jesus explained it this way:

“That which is BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH, and that which is BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT” (John 3:6).

Everyone is born in the flesh. By our first birth we are flesh. We are born physically alive, but spiritually dead. Jesus told a disciple “Come, follow Me”, and that disciple said “I’ve got to go and bury my father first”. Jesus told him, “Let the DEAD bury the DEAD” (Luke 9:60). Let the spiritually dead be overly concerned about burying physically dead people. Follow Jesus. Period.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3, 5 (LSB) Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” … [5] … unless one is BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

You cannot be in proximity to God, nor even understand the most apparent truths of God, unless you are BORN into His family by faith in Christ. The Apostle said …

(Romans 8:7-8 ESV) For the mind that is SET ON THE FLESH is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV) The NATURAL PERSON DOES NOT ACCEPT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, for they are FOLLY to him, and HE IS NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM because they are spiritually discerned.

In this parable “A CERTAIN MAN” (who represents God) has TWO SONS. Both are born into the family. Both have inheritances. Let’s not consider this two men without God.

What If This Is This Is TWO SONS In
DIFFERENT STAGES OF FAITH.

What do I mean by “faith”? The word “FAITH” is very common in our world, but people define if differently.

* Some people define faith as wishful thinking. “I have FAITH we’ll win the championship”.
* Others define faith as a set of doctrines. “I follow the Christian FAITH”.
* Yet others define faith as a way to manipulate God so as to get something. They say, “If you BELIEVE hard enough and have ENOUGH FAITH, God will answer your prayer in the way you want”. It’s like putting God in a holy headlock.

Faith as the Bible defines it is none of those things. The Bible defines “faith” this way:

(Hebrews 11:6 LSB) And WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for he who DRAWS NEAR to God must BELIEVE THAT HE IS and [that] He is a rewarder of those who SEEK HIM.

Faith is to believe that God is Who He says He is. Faith is to draw NEAR to God. Faith is to desire God, to seek Him because you must have Him. Faith trusts God, and obeys God. The day we are saved, we simply gives ourselves to Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Then as sons of God we follow Him one day at a time, one step at a time.

And here’s the kicker: Christians can and do get away from God. Even Christians in Church get away from God. It happens. The maturity of a Christian is shown in their consistent works for God. The believer loves God. As we follow Him, we grow closer to Him. But sometimes, we make bad decisions. The Christians that grow and mature believe two things:

1. God has a purpose for all the things happening in my life, even things I think are bad. The Bible says:

(Romans 8:28 LSB) And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, for THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

2. I am to praise God and show gratitude to Him even when life is difficult. God loves me, and I will trust His process.

That’s developed faith. That’s mature faith. But young Christians receive blessings from God (the CERTAIN MAN) and wander away. Let’s look at it that way.

(Luke 15:12 KJV) And the YOUNGER of (the Sons) said to [his] father, Father, GIVE ME THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT FALLETH TO ME. And He divided unto them [his] living.

**What Jesus is saying here is actually shocking to the audience, and it should be shocking to us. The Young Son is treating his Father as if He were dead already!**

Under the Law of Moses the firstborn child received a double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17), whereas the other children received a portion. When Abraham neared death “Abraham gave all he had unto Isaac” (Genesis 25:5). But he did this just before dying. We see this throughout the Bible. When

Isaac was dying, he blessed Jacob (Genesis 27)
Jacob was dying, he blessed his sons (Genesis 48-49)
David was dying, he blessed Solomon (1 Kings 1-2)

The inheritance is not normally given until the Father is dying or dead. Though it was not unlawful to transfer property to the children early, it was highly unusual. The only clear place I can find in the Bible where this is done is in this parable. So it’s shocking! It would make the audience gasp!

The young son is the picture of a young believer, someone who has been born again. He is a son. But he treats the Father as if He were dead. In the ancient world, if a child treated the Father in this way, the parents had the right to have the child killed. The Law says that a child who disrespects his parents …

(Deuteronomy 21:19-21 KJV) THEN shall his father and his mother LAY HOLD ON HIM, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; [20] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This OUR SON IS STUBBORN AND REBELLIOUS, he WILL NOT OBEY OUR VOICE; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] And ALL THE MEN OF HIS CITY WILL STONE HIM WITH STONES, THAT HE DIE: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

What does “The CERTAIN MAN” or God do when the young son impudently demands his inheritance? The Scripture declares, “If we are FAITHLESS, GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL – for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Beloved, we have ALL failed God at one time or another. In 30 years of ministry …

I have seen people come to Christ, professing Him as Lord and Savior. Then I have seen them wander away from God, sometimes for years.

Does God kill His children that wander away? No, for “He divided unto them [his] living”. God is merciful and kind. He lets us have our free will.

(Luke 15:13 KJV) 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 (asōtōs zaō).

Word Study: Jesus said that the young son, “wasted his substance with RIOTOUS LIVING”, the Greek asōtōs zaō. The word asōtōs is only used here in the Bible by our Lord. The word means to “be given to reckless waste, extravagance, a lifestyle that is ultimately destructive”. The Bible tells us that God is the Source of LIFE. “God gives everyone LIFE” (Acts 17:25). “The LORD is Your LIFE” (Deuteronomy 30:20). Jesus said in John 14:6, “I AM the way, the truth, and THE LIFE”. When you walk away from God, your LIFE will begin to degrade. God gave you physical life. God gives you spiritual life. Walk away from God, and you cut yourself off from the Source. I can take a rechargeable flashlight and use it to get light. But if I don’t recharge it, get it back to the source, I’ll be in the dark. I can use my cell phone but, if I don’t return it to the Source, in time it will be DEAD and USELESS. This is the lesson that all Christians must understand.

(Luke 15:14 KJV) And when HE HAD SPENT ALL, there arose a mighty FAMINE in that land; and he BEGAN TO BE IN WANT

Who causes famines? Are they just accidents of nature? God told Israel when they walked away from Him:

(Leviticus 26:15, 17, 19-20 LSB) if, instead, YOU REJECT MY STATUTES, and if your soul loathes My judgments so as not to do all My commandments [and] so break My covenant, … [17] ‘And I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST YOU so that you will be DEFEATED BEFORE YOUR ENEMIES; and those who hate you will have dominion over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you. … YOUR LAND WILL NOT GIVE FORTH ITS PRODUCE and the TREES OF THE LAND WILL NOT GIVE FORTH THEIR FRUIT.

The young man lost his resources, then God sent famine into the land. The young man got as low as he could get.

(Luke 15:15-16 KJV) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and HE SENT HIM INTO HIS FIELDS TO FEED THE SWINE. [16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and NO MAN GAVE UNTO HIM.

Christian, if you wander from God, you wander from the Source of your power and of your blessing. A Christian walking with the darkness and not with the light is an abnormality.

I have seen so many who professed Christ as Savior and Lord, but who turned against Him with their lives. And I have buried man from cancers, and diseases without measure, who were once members of Churches but who wandered from holy land into devilish darkness. Were these people saved, but later lost. I believe they were still sons of God, for in Jesus parable this young man was still a ‘SON”. As the pressure mounted, finally we read:

(Luke 15:17-19 KJV) 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.

Pride Takes Us Away From God.
Humility & Repentance Brings Us Back.

Sons of God should be walking with God, not with the world.

(Ephesians 5:8-11 LSB) you were FORMERLY DARKNESS, but now YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD; WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT [9] (for the fruit of that light [consists] in all goodness and righteousness and truth), [10] trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. [11] And DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, but instead even expose them.

Whereas before the young son pridefully demanded his rights and his inheritance, now he humbles himself, begging a servant’s place before his Father. He is unworthy, and knows it. This is the point where God can use you. God can’t use arrogant people. God doesn’t care how educated you are. He wants you in His presence, willing to do as He says. As the young son heads home, his mindset is Father, “am NO MORE WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON: make me as one of thy hired servants”. So what happens?

(Luke 15:20-24 KJV) 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.

This is not the end of the parable, but this is a good place to stop. The Father takes the repentant son back without question or restriction. We’ll talk about that – and about the other son – in another message. Remember, this is “The Parable of the Two Sons”. Sunday night we’ll look at this parable again, and look at the Elder Son. Until then, God Bless You!