THE LOST: GOD LOVINGLY WELCOMES THE LOST WHO RETURNS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Lost
a) The parables of The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son portray God as concerned about the lost, and willing and anxious that they be returned to Him.
b) The three parables about the lost being found illustrate the kindness and mercy of God. When those who are lost are found, there is much rejoicing in all the household of God (Luke 15:4-32).
2. God Lovingly Welcomes the Lost who Returns
a) The parable of the lost son.
Luke 15:11-13
“11 And he said, There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property falling to me.' So the father divided his property between the two sons. 13 A few days later, the younger son packed everything and took a journey into a distant country. There he wasted his property in prodigal living.”
i) This is the parable of the prodigal son. Prodigal means wasteful. The son "squandered his estate". This is not the main thrust of the parable. However, we will call it the parable of the lost son, because it is essentially a parable about a son who became lost and was found.
Luke 15:14-16
“14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, such that he came to be in need. 15 So he went and became the servant of a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And the son was longing to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”
i) How lost the lost son was, and how helpless! He had lost his estate. He had no friends to help. The prostitutes he has squandered his money on were no longer interested in him. The one he was serving did not care. The pigs were no help. He was in a hopeless state.
Luke 15:17-19
“17 But when he came to himself, he said to himself, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will tell my father that I have sinned against heaven and before him, 19 and am no longer worthy to be called his son. I will ask him to treat me as one of his hired servants.'”
i) The lost son had only one hope — and how he underestimated it! He remembered what life had been like in the home he had despised and left. He remembered how good it had been even for the lowliest servants of the household, let alone the sons. He decided he would go home to his Father and plead humbly to be allowed back into the household. The lost son did not dare to think, however, that he could be made a son again. He did hope that his father might grant him a place as one of the servants.
Luke 15:20-21
“20 And he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and hugged him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' ”
i) The son carried through with his repentance and went back to his father. The returned son humbled himself. He declared to his Father, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son".
Luke 15:22-24
“22 But the father said to his servants, 'Hurry and bring the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate.”
i) Note the loving kindness of the father far beyond the son's expectation. This of course represents the love of God. The father lavishly celebrated his son's homecoming and repentance. There was much rejoicing. There was no talk of the son being made a servant. He was reinstated and as a son, and honored with robe and ring.
Luke 15:25-30
“25 Now his older son had been out in the field. As he came back and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant replied, 'Your brother has turned up, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.' 28 But the elder son was angry and refused to go inside. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and never a command of yours did I disobey. Yet you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours turned up, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' ”
i) There is a sequel to the story. The good son who never strayed became angry at his father's treatment of the prodigal son. This sequel is intended as a lesson to the scribes and Pharisees (Luke 15:1-2) who thought themselves righteous, and in many ways were. However they looked down upon "sinners" and did not think God would grant them repentance and forgive them.
Luke 15:31-32
“31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found.'”
i) The father had the last say. Part of being righteous and faithful is humility and patience. We know God will reward our righteousness far beyond what it is worth. We are content to wait for that future day when God will give us our inheritance. He says, "All that is mine is yours". The father points out that "to be merry and rejoice" is the only proper response to the lost sinner's repentance and return to the Father. When the dead are made alive again, and the lost are found, what else can we do but feast and sing and dance for joy?
The End ...
1. The Lost a) The parables of The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son portray God as concerned about the lost, and willing and anxious that they be returned to Him.
b) The three parables about the lost being found illustrate the kindness and mercy of God. When those who are lost are found, there is much rejoicing in all the household of God (Luke 15:4-32).
2. God Lovingly Welcomes the Lost who Returns
a) The parable of the lost son.
Luke 15:11-13
“11 And he said, There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property falling to me.' So the father divided his property between the two sons. 13 A few days later, the younger son packed everything and took a journey into a distant country. There he wasted his property in prodigal living.”
i) This is the parable of the prodigal son. Prodigal means wasteful. The son "squandered his estate". This is not the main thrust of the parable. However, we will call it the parable of the lost son, because it is essentially a parable about a son who became lost and was found.
Luke 15:14-16
“14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, such that he came to be in need. 15 So he went and became the servant of a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And the son was longing to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”
i) How lost the lost son was, and how helpless! He had lost his estate. He had no friends to help. The prostitutes he has squandered his money on were no longer interested in him. The one he was serving did not care. The pigs were no help. He was in a hopeless state.
Luke 15:17-19
“17 But when he came to himself, he said to himself, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will tell my father that I have sinned against heaven and before him, 19 and am no longer worthy to be called his son. I will ask him to treat me as one of his hired servants.'”
i) The lost son had only one hope — and how he underestimated it! He remembered what life had been like in the home he had despised and left. He remembered how good it had been even for the lowliest servants of the household, let alone the sons. He decided he would go home to his Father and plead humbly to be allowed back into the household. The lost son did not dare to think, however, that he could be made a son again. He did hope that his father might grant him a place as one of the servants.
Luke 15:20-21
“20 And he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and hugged him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' ”
i) The son carried through with his repentance and went back to his father. The returned son humbled himself. He declared to his Father, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son".
Luke 15:22-24
“22 But the father said to his servants, 'Hurry and bring the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate.”
i) Note the loving kindness of the father far beyond the son's expectation. This of course represents the love of God. The father lavishly celebrated his son's homecoming and repentance. There was much rejoicing. There was no talk of the son being made a servant. He was reinstated and as a son, and honored with robe and ring.
Luke 15:25-30
“25 Now his older son had been out in the field. As he came back and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant replied, 'Your brother has turned up, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.' 28 But the elder son was angry and refused to go inside. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and never a command of yours did I disobey. Yet you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours turned up, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' ”
i) There is a sequel to the story. The good son who never strayed became angry at his father's treatment of the prodigal son. This sequel is intended as a lesson to the scribes and Pharisees (Luke 15:1-2) who thought themselves righteous, and in many ways were. However they looked down upon "sinners" and did not think God would grant them repentance and forgive them.
Luke 15:31-32
“31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive again; was lost and is found.'”
i) The father had the last say. Part of being righteous and faithful is humility and patience. We know God will reward our righteousness far beyond what it is worth. We are content to wait for that future day when God will give us our inheritance. He says, "All that is mine is yours". The father points out that "to be merry and rejoice" is the only proper response to the lost sinner's repentance and return to the Father. When the dead are made alive again, and the lost are found, what else can we do but feast and sing and dance for joy?
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