The Prodigal Son - Jake Chambers

  • Jake Chambers
  • Nov 28, 2010
  • Series: Topical

The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:1-2 We must not forget the context of The Prodigal Son. It is a response to the pharisees. It is a response to the religious grumbling at Jesus love for the irreligious. There are two types of people in the world, two responses. There is the religious. This is typified by the Pharisees here. They are proud, they grumble, they look down on and they rally for religion, they rally for moralism and leglism. There is also the irreligious or anti-religious response. Those that throw all morals out the window no matter what damage it causes them are others. This is typified by the tax collectors and sinners. See in many’s world these are the only two options, the only two belief systems, the only two lifestyles and so the religious hate the irreligious and the irreligious hate the religious.

The tax collector and the sinner looks at the religious and either believes I can never be good enough or just believes I don’t want to be like that arrogant punk. The religious are so proud that they will kill for their morals and they look down in disgust at the irreligious. The religious start wars against other religions and the religious make the irreligious feel like inferior crap.

But Jesus is neither religious or irreligious. He offers a third way a gospel way, a way that is both good news to the irreligious and good news to the religious even thought the way is different than either one would choose. The story of the Prodigal Son paints the picture of that way. If you are here and you are religious the story of the prodigal son has much to say to you.  If you are here and are irreligious the Prodigal Son has much to say to you!

11-16 The irreligious prodigal son. Consumed by greed, selfishness and wreckless living. He is thankless and foolish. The pigs signify the depth he has stooped to. Pigs were unclean to Jews and feeding them would be an all-time low for a Jew. His sin has brought him to rock bottom.

17-19 A sinner in need of a savior – why the irreligious are closer to salvation that the religious.

20-24 A picture of forgiveness. A new identity, a new life and a new family. The robe signified an honored guest, the ring an heir and a son, the shoes freedom as slaves were barefoot. He is honored, given sonship and freedom. From hungry to satisified.

What did the prodigal deserve? The third way Jesus offers is the way of the gospel of joy of Jesus. A way of forgiveness and grace. We get what we could never earn. We get sonship, freedom and honor. We get satisfaction in Christ. This is the way of the gospel. From the death of irreligion to the life of Jesus. From the lostness of sin to finding true joy in Jesus.

25-30 Religion missies out. Too  busy comparing to sinners instead of comparing to Jesus. The way of gospel compares to Jesus. What if son compared his selfish reaction to his Fathers celebratory reaction? That would humble him. What is the religous son’s heart? This son of yours? Disowns his brother.

31 The Father gives the gospel. He entreats the older brother. We must entreat the religious. There is good news for them too. The gospel doesn’t lessen when a sinner is found righteous it increases. All the father has he says belongs to the religious son. He is forgetting what he says he believes. He is forgetting the good news of the gospel. That he has everything given to him by his loving father, sharing in all the joy and blessings. He forgets it is an undeserved gift. If it is an undeserved gift for the religious than they are free to celebrate the undeserved gift with the irreligious. Praise be to God!

32 The gospel not away of prideful standoffishness but of thankful joy and celebration. Are you missing out on the celebration? The gospel gives us hope to go after the prodigal. The gospel gives us hope and motivation to entreat the older brother! The gospel is good news for all. Remember the gospel and celebrate.

On the week of Thanksgiving we should be the most thankful of people. Whether are background is more religious or more irreligious or a mixing of both we should repent of that and be the most joyful, thankful and celebratory people. Amen.

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