Series: Lost and Found
September 04, 2022 | Dr. Wes George
Passage: Luke 15:11-32
The young prodigal was self-indulgent. 12-20a
He selfishly and immediately requested his inheritance.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.
He recklessly wished his father dead.
The father selflessly gave the younger son what he requested.
12...’ So he divided his wealth between them.
He left his father’s home, influence, and protection.
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country
He wasted what he had been given on loose living.
13...and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
He was further impacted by a famine.
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
He had to hire himself out as a slave working in an ungodly pig farm.
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.
He came to his senses.
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!
He considered what he should do and say.
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.” ’
He came home.
20 “So he got up and came to his father. . .
The father welcomed home his young self-indulgent prodigal son. 20b-24
His father saw him a long way off.
20...But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him
His father felt compassion for him.
20...and felt compassion for him
His father ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him.
20...and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
The son did confess his unworthiness and his sin.
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.’
The father treated his returned son with honor.
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;
The father celebrated with others his son’s return home.
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.
The older self-righteous son rejects his brother and his father. 25-32
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.’
He became angry and unwilling to enter his father’s house.
28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
He was self-focused.
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.
The father wants all his children to come home.
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.’ ”
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