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The Parable of the Father’s Love (Luke 15: 11-32). “Return of the Prodigal” by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1668; St. Petersburg, Russia. “So He told them this parable …” (Luke 15). Context (15:1-2) I. Lost Sheep (15:3-7) II. Lost Coin (15:8-10) III. Lost Son (15:11-32). Context.
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The Parable of the Father’s Love (Luke 15: 11-32) “Return of the Prodigal” by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1668; St. Petersburg, Russia
“So He told them this parable …” (Luke 15) Context (15:1-2) I. Lost Sheep (15:3-7) II. Lost Coin (15:8-10) III. Lost Son (15:11-32)
Context “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribesgrumbled, saying,"This man receives sinners and eats with them.” “The tax-gatherer is the personification of licensed violence, of legal sin, of specious greed.” St. Chrysostom
Luke uses this word "receive" (prosdechomai) six other times in his writings, and every time it means "eagerly await or expect and look for." Luke 2:25 Luke 2:38 Luke 12:36 In other words, Luke 15:2 says that Jesus is not just receiving sinners; he is looking for them and eagerly awaiting their coming to Him. He has his redemptive sights on them.
“So He told them this parable …” “The point of Luke’s introduction [15:1-2] is that the parable [is] an apologetic for Jesus’ unusual relationship [with tax-collectors and sinners].” Darrell Bock
The Parable of the Father’s Love(Luke 15) I. The Carnal Son (vv. 11-20a) Sick of home / Sick / Homesick / Home II. The Compassionate Father (vv. 20b-24) III. The Callous Brother (vv. 25-32)
I. The Carnal Son (vv. 11-20a) A. Sick of Home (vv. 11-13) “My father glooms and advises me, My brother sulks and despises me, My mother catechises me, Till I want to go out and swear.” Rudyard Kipling The Prodigal Son (Western Version)
I. The Carnal Son (vv. 11-20a) What marks the prodigal son? Greed & Materialism Dishonor of his father and mother Foolish (reckless, self-absorbed) living Sexual immorality prodigal: recklessly extravagant
I. The Carnal Son (vv. 11-20a) A. Sick of Home (vv. 11-13) B. Sick (vv. 14-16) The Indignities of Life Apart from the Father Attached himself to a swine farming Gentile Feeding pigs (cf., Lev. 11:7) Hungry Envious of swine
I. The Carnal Son (vv. 11-20a) A. Sick of Home (vv. 11-13) B. Sick (vv. 14-16) C. Homesick (vv. 17-19) The emphasis here is on his repentance.
True Repentance 1. “He came to himself” (v. 17a) “You were made by God in the image of God for God. These are the three main things about your identity as a human being; you are made by God, like God, for God. Therefore conversion is "coming to yourself" as well as coming to God. It is discovering where you came from and who you are and why you exist. Running from God is always a running from ourselves. Repentance is waking up to this truth.” (John Piper)
True Repentance 1. “He came to himself” (v. 17a) 2. Conviction of sin and its children: godly sorrow and a deep sense of unworthiness (v. 18) 3. Casting himself on God’s free, abundant grace “How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father.”(vv. 17b-18)
I. The Carnal Son (vv. 11-20a) A. Sick of Home (vv. 11-13) B. Sick (vv. 14-16) C. Homesick (vv. 17-20a) D. Home (v. 20a)
II. The Compassionate Father (vv. 20b-24) We must understand the grieving of the Father in Act One: 1. Rejection of his person (bios; v. 12) 2. Rejection of his heritage 3. Rejection of his values
II. The Compassionate Father (vv. 20b-24) A. The Passion of Grace (v. 20b) B. The Elevation of Grace (v. 22) Best robe – dignity of the family Ring – sign of family authority Shoes – sign of a freeman
II. The Compassionate Father (vv. 20b-24) A. The Passion of Grace (v. 20b) B. The Elevation of Grace (v. 22) C. The Celebration of Grace (vv. 23-24)
The Prodigal Son in the Tavern (Rembrandt and Saskia). c. 1635 Rembrandt van Rijn Born 1606 Great success early 1635-1642 He lost 3 children & his wife After 1642 – more tragedy & declining popularity Bankrupt in 1656 Died in 1669
“Simeon with Christ” by Rembrandt van Rijn (unfinished); Stockholm ,Sweden “Return of the Prodigal” by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1668; St. Petersburg, Russia
“where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)