The Prodigal Son
11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ 20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 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.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ” Luke 15:11-32 NASB
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Asking for his inheritance early in that culture was the equivalent of saying “I wish you were dead so I could have your money”
He left and moved very far away. He wasted all the wealth that his father had given him on wild extravagant living. He was broke, with none of the “friends” he made while wealthy willing to do anything for him. He was at the lowest point of his life. He was so desperate that he agreed to look after and feed pigs. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food that he was feeding to the pigs.
To the listeners this would have been a very big deal.
1. He disrespected his father.
2. He abandoned his own people/culture.
3. He wasted his wealth.
4. He was caring for unclean animals and thus was religiously unclean himself.
He was as low as he could be Financially, Culturally, and Spiritually.
He finally decides that he should go back home and beg his father to take him back in as a hired man because, even they had it better than him.
When he finally arrives back home,
1. His father sees him from a long way off and runs out to meet him. This is culturally significant because it was undignified to hurry anywhere and unheard of for man of his position to run anywhere.
2. The father has the best robe in the home put on his son. This would have been the father’s own robe and an outward sign of the son’s acceptance back into the family.
3. The father has a ring put on his son’s hand. This would likely have been a signet ring proclaiming his authority within the household.
4. The father threw a big party to celebrate his return.
The father was happy to see his son. In that moment, it was not about where he had gone, what he had done, or his condition when he showed up. His father was just glad he came home.
When the older son came back in from the fields that day he saw everything that was going on and he was angry.
In that moment, the things that mattered to the older son were the exact opposite of what the father cared about. What the younger son had done and said, the shame he had brought upon the family within the community, and his unclean life all made the younger son an outsider to his brother. These things made him unworthy to be a part of the family anymore. It was too much. This was no brother of his.
The father went out to the returning younger son and took him back into the house.
When the father went out to the returning older son and begged him (another undignified thing for him to do), the older son refused to come back into the house.
At the beginning of the story there were 2 sons: the older and the younger.
At the end of the story there were again 2 sons: The prodigal then returned younger son and the lost and angry older son.
Who was the target audience for this parable? Who was he speaking to?
Everyone would have seen that Jesus was comparing the older son to the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day. But who was he comparing to the younger son?
1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2 NASB
Where do you fit into this crowd? Are you a sinner? You are the one who decides whether you are the older or the younger son. Will you accept that you need forgiveness and return to a loving father? Or will you look from the outside judging those who Christ has already forgiven?
More than that, Will you be like the father to those around you. Will you welcome them back into God’s forgiveness instead of standing in judgment over them? Will you plead with them to return to the house of God when anger overcomes them? Will you celebrate their return when they have brought shame and disgrace upon themselves and those around them? Will you show them the same grace that our Savior has shown you? Will you?
There is nothing that you have done that would stop you from being forgiven if you ask. There is nothing that you have done that will make God stop loving you. You are not beyond the ability or desire of God to forgive you.
You are loved.
You are valued.
You have a home to return to.
Come home...
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https://youtu.be/SCFX6bobXMI
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Love of a Father
I could run a thousand miles to win the race of life, but what's the value?
Without You?
I could write a thousand psalms to captivate Your heart but more than offerings
Lord, You seek the depths of me
When You see me, You see my heart
Through the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son
You love me with open arms
And the pride of a Father
I was once a prodigal, burdened by my shame 'til You came running
To remind me
Your love is unconditional and in Your eyes I'm worthy of forgiveness
Oh! What was lost is now redeemed
When You see me, You see my heart
Through the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son
You love me with open arms
And the pride of a Father
Oh! I know You love me
I know You love me, whoa
You never leave me, You never leave me
By my side, yeah, by my side, yeah
Who am I that You love me?
Who am I that You saved my soul?
Who am I without You, Lord?
Who am I to be worthy?
Who am I that You're mindful of me?
Who am I that You called me yours?
Who am I that You love me?
Who am I that You saved my soul?
Who am I without You, Lord?
And who am I to be worthy?
Who am I that You're mindful of me?
Who am I that You called me yours? (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Who am I that You love me?
Who am I that You saved my soul?
Who am I without You, Lord?
And who am I to be worthy?
Who am I that You're mindful of me?
Who am I that You called me yours?
When You see me, You see my heart
Through the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son
You love me with open arms
And the pride of a Father
When You see me, You see my heart
Through the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son
You love me with open arms
And the pride of a Father
I know You love me
With the pride of a Father
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#Prodigal #Bible #Christ #Jesus #Parable #Forgiveness #Sinner #Father
ImYour Huckleberry /
npub1lm…rd0ae
2023-08-06 16:43:01
Author Public Key
npub1lme7lw7lj9m0jwp2v76wad4uf0ag7k6trvuawy5lup7e0lqhxuwqyrd0aePublished at
2023-08-06 16:43:01Event JSON
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"content": "The Prodigal Son\n11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ 20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.\n25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 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.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ” Luke 15:11-32 NASB\n______\nAsking for his inheritance early in that culture was the equivalent of saying “I wish you were dead so I could have your money”\n\nHe left and moved very far away. He wasted all the wealth that his father had given him on wild extravagant living. He was broke, with none of the “friends” he made while wealthy willing to do anything for him. He was at the lowest point of his life. He was so desperate that he agreed to look after and feed pigs. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food that he was feeding to the pigs.\n\nTo the listeners this would have been a very big deal.\n1. He disrespected his father.\n2. He abandoned his own people/culture.\n3. He wasted his wealth.\n4. He was caring for unclean animals and thus was religiously unclean himself.\nHe was as low as he could be Financially, Culturally, and Spiritually.\n\nHe finally decides that he should go back home and beg his father to take him back in as a hired man because, even they had it better than him.\n\nWhen he finally arrives back home, \n1. His father sees him from a long way off and runs out to meet him. This is culturally significant because it was undignified to hurry anywhere and unheard of for man of his position to run anywhere.\n2. The father has the best robe in the home put on his son. This would have been the father’s own robe and an outward sign of the son’s acceptance back into the family.\n3. The father has a ring put on his son’s hand. This would likely have been a signet ring proclaiming his authority within the household.\n4. The father threw a big party to celebrate his return.\n\nThe father was happy to see his son. In that moment, it was not about where he had gone, what he had done, or his condition when he showed up. His father was just glad he came home.\n\nWhen the older son came back in from the fields that day he saw everything that was going on and he was angry.\n\nIn that moment, the things that mattered to the older son were the exact opposite of what the father cared about. What the younger son had done and said, the shame he had brought upon the family within the community, and his unclean life all made the younger son an outsider to his brother. These things made him unworthy to be a part of the family anymore. It was too much. This was no brother of his.\n\nThe father went out to the returning younger son and took him back into the house.\nWhen the father went out to the returning older son and begged him (another undignified thing for him to do), the older son refused to come back into the house.\n\nAt the beginning of the story there were 2 sons: the older and the younger.\nAt the end of the story there were again 2 sons: The prodigal then returned younger son and the lost and angry older son. \n\nWho was the target audience for this parable? Who was he speaking to?\n\nEveryone would have seen that Jesus was comparing the older son to the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day. But who was he comparing to the younger son? \n1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2 NASB\nWhere do you fit into this crowd? Are you a sinner? You are the one who decides whether you are the older or the younger son. Will you accept that you need forgiveness and return to a loving father? Or will you look from the outside judging those who Christ has already forgiven?\n\nMore than that, Will you be like the father to those around you. Will you welcome them back into God’s forgiveness instead of standing in judgment over them? Will you plead with them to return to the house of God when anger overcomes them? Will you celebrate their return when they have brought shame and disgrace upon themselves and those around them? Will you show them the same grace that our Savior has shown you? Will you?\n\nThere is nothing that you have done that would stop you from being forgiven if you ask. There is nothing that you have done that will make God stop loving you. You are not beyond the ability or desire of God to forgive you.\n\nYou are loved.\nYou are valued.\nYou have a home to return to.\n\nCome home...\n-\n-\nhttps://youtu.be/SCFX6bobXMI\n-\n-\nLove of a Father\n\nI could run a thousand miles to win the race of life, but what's the value?\nWithout You?\nI could write a thousand psalms to captivate Your heart but more than offerings\n\nLord, You seek the depths of me\n\nWhen You see me, You see my heart\nThrough the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son\nYou love me with open arms\nAnd the pride of a Father\n\nI was once a prodigal, burdened by my shame 'til You came running\nTo remind me\nYour love is unconditional and in Your eyes I'm worthy of forgiveness\n\nOh! What was lost is now redeemed\n\nWhen You see me, You see my heart\nThrough the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son\nYou love me with open arms\nAnd the pride of a Father\n\nOh! I know You love me\nI know You love me, whoa\nYou never leave me, You never leave me\nBy my side, yeah, by my side, yeah\n\nWho am I that You love me?\nWho am I that You saved my soul?\nWho am I without You, Lord?\nWho am I to be worthy?\nWho am I that You're mindful of me?\nWho am I that You called me yours?\n\nWho am I that You love me?\nWho am I that You saved my soul?\nWho am I without You, Lord?\nAnd who am I to be worthy?\nWho am I that You're mindful of me?\nWho am I that You called me yours? (Oh-oh-oh-oh)\n\nWho am I that You love me?\nWho am I that You saved my soul?\nWho am I without You, Lord?\nAnd who am I to be worthy?\nWho am I that You're mindful of me?\nWho am I that You called me yours?\n\nWhen You see me, You see my heart\nThrough the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son\nYou love me with open arms\nAnd the pride of a Father\n\nWhen You see me, You see my heart\nThrough the eyes of Your mercy in the light of Your Son\nYou love me with open arms\nAnd the pride of a Father\n\nI know You love me\nWith the pride of a Father\n-\n-\n#Prodigal #Bible #Christ #Jesus #Parable #Forgiveness #Sinner #Father",
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