WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.940
 This morning's text is Luke chapter 15, verses 11 through 32.

00:00:05.780 --> 00:00:10.880
 So please join us there as we turn our attention to the study of God's word, Luke chapter 15.

00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.759
 Now this is most likely a familiar text to you.

00:00:15.380 --> 00:00:19.179
 If you've been following along with our church's Bible reading plan, it was part of Tuesday's reading.

00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.440
 I hope this morning you'll be enriched by a further study of it.

00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:27.039
 Now there is a lot to be said about these verses.

00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:31.100
 I have more notes than usual, so I'm going to move pretty quickly this morning,

00:00:31.539 --> 00:00:34.579
 and I'll structure our study around the three characters.

00:00:34.939 --> 00:00:40.420
 So we'll first look at the younger son, then at the father, and finally at the older son.

00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:43.659
 I'm going to present a number of points for each of these characters,

00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:46.719
 and we'll do my best to do so in a way that you can keep up with.

00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.340
 But if you do have a pen in your hand and are trying to take notes,

00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:51.820
 I just want to go ahead and prep you.

00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:53.379
 Stretch your fingers a little bit.

00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:55.019
 Get ready to move fast.

00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:57.859
 So let's read our text, but for a bit of context,

00:00:57.859 --> 00:01:01.380
 I want to begin the reading at the beginning of chapter 15.

00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:05.359
 So this is Luke chapter 15, beginning in verse 1.

00:01:06.740 --> 00:01:10.120
 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to him,

00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:13.560
 and the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,

00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:16.260
 This man receives sinners and eats with them.

00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.520
 So he told them this parable.

00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:22.039
 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them,

00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:27.239
 does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?

00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:30.699
 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:34.859
 But when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them,

00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:38.000
 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.

00:01:38.479 --> 00:01:42.799
 Just so I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents

00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:46.140
 than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:50.019
 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin,

00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:54.640
 does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:58.239
 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying,

00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:02.420
 Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.

00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:08.120
 Just so I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:09.680
 And he said,

00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.760
 There was a man who had two sons.

00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:13.980
 And the younger of them said to his father,

00:02:14.099 --> 00:02:16.540
 Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.

00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:18.819
 And he divided his property between them.

00:02:19.420 --> 00:02:23.939
 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all that he had and took a journey into a far country.

00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:27.100
 And there he squandered his property in reckless living.

00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:31.280
 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country.

00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:33.040
 And he began to be in need.

00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:36.920
 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country,

00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:39.480
 who sent him into his field to feed pigs.

00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:42.800
 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.

00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:44.379
 And no one gave him anything.

00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:47.120
 But when he came to himself, he said,

00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:52.180
 How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger.

00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.480
 I will arise and go to my father.

00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:55.719
 And I will say to him,

00:02:56.200 --> 00:02:58.520
 Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:01.040
 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:03.460
 Treat me as one of your hired servants.

00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:05.980
 And he arose and came to his father.

00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:14.120
 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

00:03:14.540 --> 00:03:15.740
 And the son said to him,

00:03:15.980 --> 00:03:18.500
 Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:20.900
 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:22.819
 But the father said to his servants,

00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:32.300
 Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring the fattened calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate.

00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:35.479
 For this my son was dead and is alive again.

00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:37.900
 He was lost and is found.

00:03:38.340 --> 00:03:39.920
 And they began to celebrate.

00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:42.679
 Now his older son was in the field.

00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:46.359
 And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:49.659
 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:50.939
 And he said to him,

00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:56.619
 Your brother has come and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.

00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.779
 But he was angry and refused to go in.

00:04:00.099 --> 00:04:02.119
 His father came out and entreated him.

00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:03.679
 But he answered his father,

00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:08.259
 Look, these many years I have served you and I never disobeyed your command.

00:04:08.259 --> 00:04:12.399
 Yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends.

00:04:12.979 --> 00:04:18.319
 But when this son of yours came who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.

00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:20.019
 And he said to him,

00:04:20.539 --> 00:04:24.639
 Son, you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.

00:04:25.159 --> 00:04:29.360
 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad for this brother was dead and is alive.

00:04:29.719 --> 00:04:32.000
 He was lost and is found.

00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:38.099
 The contemporary pastor and commentator John MacArthur has called the story of the prodigal son,

00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:40.560
 the greatest short story ever told.

00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:46.360
 This story has been often cited and exists in the collective conscience of our culture,

00:04:46.580 --> 00:04:48.920
 but is most often misunderstood.

00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.200
 I pray this morning we will arrive at a clearer understanding of its meaning.

00:04:53.900 --> 00:05:00.180
 The story is primarily told by Jesus in order to address the attitudes of the religious elite,

00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:04.860
 who Luke tells us about at the beginning of chapter 15, verse 2,

00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:08.720
 and the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,

00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.259
 This man receives sinners and eats with them.

00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:17.160
 So as Jesus is being compassionate for those who would come to him in repentance,

00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:19.399
 they're upset about it.

00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:24.000
 So in response, Luke tells us Jesus, verse 3, told them this parable.

00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.879
 And then Luke records the parable of the lost sheep.

00:05:27.419 --> 00:05:29.659
 And then verse 8, or what woman?

00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.699
 And then tells the parable of the lost coin.

00:05:32.919 --> 00:05:36.379
 And then, without skipping a beat, verse 11,

00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:44.659
 There's always a great temptation to allegorize Jesus' parables,

00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:49.420
 to make everything in the text take on some complex symbolic meaning.

00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:51.040
 People do this all the time.

00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:57.060
 But we must be really careful to see here that Jesus is driving a solitary point.

00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:01.259
 He is juxtaposing the attitudes of the Pharisees and the scribes

00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:04.899
 with the rejoicing of heaven over lost souls being found.

00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:09.259
 We need to keep this in mind as we consider the story of the prodigal son.

00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:15.239
 It sits within a chapter of parables with an even larger cultural reality.

00:06:15.719 --> 00:06:20.079
 And we need to do some faithful work to understand its meaning and bearing on us today.

00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.799
 I want to pose the question at the outset,

00:06:23.979 --> 00:06:27.079
 In what ways are we like the older son?

00:06:27.859 --> 00:06:30.519
 In what ways are we like the older son?

00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:33.560
 Once we identify any way that we are like the older son,

00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:34.560
 we have been given reason.

00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:35.939
 For repentance.

00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:38.239
 And I pray that we'll do so this morning.

00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:43.139
 But first, let's look at the character of the younger son.

00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:44.560
 So first, the younger son.

00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:48.019
 The younger son is the prodigal himself.

00:06:48.799 --> 00:06:53.000
 All of us, in some measure, find ourselves in him.

00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:57.159
 The word prodigal means licentious or lavish,

00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:01.680
 or as the ESV says in the text in verse 13, reckless.

00:07:02.180 --> 00:07:08.640
 The prodigal son is prodigal in his sin, in his rebellion against his father.

00:07:09.380 --> 00:07:13.520
 Now, there are various stages in the history of a sinner.

00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:17.240
 This is true of the prodigal and are worth noting for our benefit.

00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:22.219
 This is especially important for you this morning if you have not believed in Jesus Christ.

00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:29.419
 But if you have believed, do not think that a careful consideration of who you once were is a fruitless effort.

00:07:29.420 --> 00:07:31.580
 This could be of great benefit to us.

00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:35.439
 It's always good to remember the grace of God to us in Jesus Christ.

00:07:35.640 --> 00:07:40.100
 To be reminded of what we were saved from makes us revel,

00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:43.200
 and I think it should make us revel afresh each time,

00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:46.159
 in who we have been saved to.

00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.159
 So, some sub points for you for the son.

00:07:51.219 --> 00:07:53.019
 Number one, independence from God.

00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:56.759
 Number two, indulgence of self.

00:07:58.659 --> 00:08:01.599
 Number three, insanity of soul.

00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:06.360
 And for those of us who are in Christ, right,

00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:11.939
 this journey ends, number four, with repentance and faith.

00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:17.939
 So, first, let's look at the younger son's independence from God,

00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:20.379
 this history of sin, right?

00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:21.420
 Verse 12 says,

00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:23.019
 The younger said to his father,

00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:26.360
 Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.

00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:29.339
 And the father divides the property among them.

00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:32.360
 We first learn of a man with two sons.

00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:37.279
 Inheritance in Jesus' day was governed by the law of primogenitor.

00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.740
 I think I'm pronouncing that correctly.

00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:43.180
 Finally, the eldest son, under this law, received a double portion of the inheritance,

00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:46.240
 which means, in the case of two sons,

00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:49.279
 that the older son would receive two-thirds of the inheritance,

00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:51.180
 and the younger, one-third.

00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.519
 Upon the request of his inheritance,

00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:56.860
 the father not only grants the younger brother what he asked for,

00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.000
 but also the older.

00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:00.480
 Notice at the end of verse 12,

00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:02.740
 And he divided his property between them.

00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:06.759
 This fact bears a great deal of significance later on.

00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:10.200
 This morning, what we need to understand about the prodigal's request

00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:12.620
 is that it was absolutely audacious.

00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.620
 To ask this of a father was a huge ask.

00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:18.759
 Under the law of primogenitor,

00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:22.639
 inheritance was only granted upon the death of the father.

00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:25.700
 So the younger son, in requesting his inheritance,

00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.039
 was wishing his father dead.

00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.399
 This is the nature of sin.

00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:34.100
 This is the way that sin expresses, right?

00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:38.539
 A rejection of God's good, loving rule.

00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:40.379
 We are saying to God,

00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:41.879
 We wish you were dead.

00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.319
 Pastor John Piper wants to find sin like this.

00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:46.759
 You may have heard this before.

00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.799
 It's greater when he says it,

00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:50.659
 but he defined it this way.

00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.459
 The glory of God not honored.

00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:54.659
 The holiness of God not reverence.

00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.620
 The greatness of God not admired.

00:09:56.819 --> 00:09:58.679
 The power of God not praised.

00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:00.839
 The truth of God not sought.

00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:02.819
 The wisdom of God not esteemed.

00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:05.059
 The beauty of God not treasured.

00:10:05.199 --> 00:10:06.859
 The goodness of God not savored.

00:10:07.219 --> 00:10:09.079
 The faithfulness of God not trusted.

00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:11.399
 The promises of God not believed.

00:10:11.739 --> 00:10:13.679
 The commandments of God not obeyed.

00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:15.579
 The justice of God not respected.

00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:17.779
 The wrath of God not feared.

00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:19.759
 The grace of God not cherished.

00:10:20.099 --> 00:10:22.319
 The presence of God not prized.

00:10:22.459 --> 00:10:25.159
 The person of God not loved.

00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:28.839
 We can observe the prodigal's expression of sin

00:10:28.839 --> 00:10:32.819
 in the very first sin found in Genesis chapter 3

00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:35.959
 and in every sin ever since.

00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:40.039
 Sin expresses a desire for God to be dead.

00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:43.620
 We once sought independence from God

00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.839
 just as the prodigal son desired independence

00:10:45.839 --> 00:10:47.120
 from his father.

00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.899
 And this should be an absolute shock to us.

00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:54.980
 The fact that this son would ask that his father be dead

00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:57.220
 that he would get his inheritance should shock us.

00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:00.319
 In a culture where honor was massively important

00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:03.360
 and the fifth commandment, honor your father and mother

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:05.240
 was not only part of the moral law

00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:06.679
 but also the judicial,

00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:10.799
 this request was more than just a little scandalous

00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.179
 for Jesus' hearers.

00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:15.279
 Let me read to you quickly from Deuteronomy chapter 21.

00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:19.939
 This is the judicial part of the fifth commandment.

00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.419
 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son

00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:24.079
 who will not obey the voice of his father

00:11:24.079 --> 00:11:25.139
 or the voice of his mother

00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:27.000
 and though they discipline him,

00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:28.120
 will not listen to them,

00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.679
 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him

00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:32.819
 and bring him out to the elders of his city

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:34.539
 at the gate of the place where he lives.

00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:36.699
 And they shall say to the elders of this city,

00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:39.000
 this our son is stubborn and rebellious.

00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:40.339
 He will not obey our voice.

00:11:40.439 --> 00:11:41.980
 He is a glutton and a drunkard.

00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:43.360
 Then all the men of the city

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.139
 shall stone him to death with stones.

00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.860
 So you shall purge the evil from your midst

00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:50.319
 and all Israel shall hear and fear.

00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:55.620
 So they took this kind of rejection of fatherly care

00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:57.500
 very seriously.

00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:00.279
 Insolence was a serious infraction.

00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:03.439
 And while the instruction of Deuteronomy chapter 21

00:12:03.439 --> 00:12:05.439
 was very rarely followed,

00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:07.539
 a son like the prodigal

00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:10.899
 would be publicly shamed and disowned.

00:12:11.299 --> 00:12:13.419
 The father may not have gone so far

00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:15.219
 as to stone his son,

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:17.620
 but he would have publicly shamed him

00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:19.079
 and disowned him.

00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:23.259
 Here, however, the father divides his property

00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:24.379
 between his sons.

00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.919
 Now we've done this very thing

00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:29.219
 in our willful rebellion against God's good instruction,

00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:31.219
 whether found in the pages of scripture

00:12:31.219 --> 00:12:32.979
 or in the law written on our hearts,

00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:35.299
 we have all rebelled against God

00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:36.500
 and wished him dead.

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:38.100
 We have all sought independence

00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:39.440
 from our good father.

00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.360
 We have all wanted ourselves

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.840
 to be gods

00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:46.139
 and we all deserve to be shamed.

00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.360
 Secondly, for the son,

00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:50.279
 the younger son,

00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:52.919
 indulgence of self.

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.659
 So verse 13 says,

00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.399
 not many days later,

00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.059
 the younger son gathered all he had

00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:58.799
 and took a journey into a far country

00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.360
 and there he squandered his property

00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.700
 in reckless living.

00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:04.300
 And so the son leaves,

00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:06.420
 which appears to have been his plan,

00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.500
 as Jesus states,

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:09.020
 not many days later.

00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:11.700
 The son would have liquidated his inheritance

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:14.180
 into transportable cash.

00:13:14.400 --> 00:13:15.900
 So he sold off land.

00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:17.960
 He sold off livestock.

00:13:18.640 --> 00:13:19.840
 Recall that Jesus is speaking

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.000
 to a Jewish audience.

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.240
 So the statement that the son took a journey

00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.600
 into a far country

00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.879
 would have been understood

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:28.340
 to be a journey to Gentile lands.

00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.820
 To Jesus' listeners,

00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:32.500
 there's a compounding audacity of the son

00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:34.640
 going to live among unclean people

00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:37.580
 to carry out unclean motives.

00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:38.820
 In their minds,

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.240
 this son is not a forgivable son.

00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:44.020
 He is doing something above and beyond

00:13:44.020 --> 00:13:46.420
 offensive to his father.

00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:48.120
 He takes the inheritance

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.160
 that the father granted him

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:51.040
 and he spends it on himself.

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:53.660
 He spends it on his desires.

00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.640
 He does not seek to do good,

00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.360
 but rather indulges his every whim.

00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.200
 He spends it in reckless living.

00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:04.500
 The sinner indulges in self.

00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:07.440
 The sinner seeks their own pleasure,

00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:09.039
 not the glory of God

00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:11.180
 or the good of their fellow man.

00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:11.919
 And beloved,

00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:15.060
 we have all been selfish in this way.

00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:16.840
 Paul writes to Titus

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:18.960
 in Titus chapter three and verse three,

00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:22.040
 for we ourselves were once foolish,

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.580
 disobedient,

00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:24.840
 led astray,

00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:27.500
 slaves to various passions and pleasures,

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:30.120
 passing our days in malice and envy,

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.460
 hated by others

00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:33.700
 and hating one another.

00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:38.400
 The next stage in this history of sin

00:14:38.400 --> 00:14:39.920
 in the younger son's life

00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:41.100
 is number three,

00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:43.340
 insanity of soul.

00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:46.040
 We see beginning in verse 14

00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.399
 and down through 16

00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:49.240
 that after he'd spent everything,

00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.620
 spent all of his inheritance,

00:14:50.819 --> 00:14:51.699
 a famine arose

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:52.939
 and he's in need.

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.159
 So he hires himself out

00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:56.319
 to be a keeper of pigs

00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:58.199
 and he has nothing to eat.

00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.779
 He longs to eat the food

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.919
 that the pigs are eating.

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.139
 Jesus next tells his hearers

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:05.339
 that the young man spent

00:15:05.339 --> 00:15:06.599
 all of his inheritance

00:15:06.599 --> 00:15:07.639
 and found himself

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.099
 in a desperate spot

00:15:09.099 --> 00:15:10.419
 as the land entered

00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:12.339
 into a famine, right?

00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.800
 The pleasures of sin are real,

00:15:15.300 --> 00:15:16.259
 but they are temporal

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:17.960
 and they are fleeting.

00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:20.180
 The prodigal experienced

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.540
 the temporal pleasure of sin

00:15:21.540 --> 00:15:22.879
 in a very stark way.

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.399
 He ventures rapidly

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.660
 from reckless living

00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:26.960
 to abject poverty.

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.780
 His sin placed him

00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:30.720
 in a dreadful spot.

00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:33.560
 If you have not believed in Christ,

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:34.740
 I pray that you would repent

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.320
 and believe

00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.740
 before you find yourself

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:38.300
 in such a place.

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:40.180
 The prodigal becomes

00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.659
 a keeper of pigs,

00:15:41.859 --> 00:15:42.559
 which would have been

00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:43.439
 additionally shocking

00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.899
 to Jesus' Jewish hearers

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:47.019
 as the pig was an unclean animal.

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.620
 The prodigal is further

00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.859
 forsaking his father

00:15:49.859 --> 00:15:51.359
 and his nationality

00:15:51.359 --> 00:15:52.279
 and he has become

00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.699
 so desperately hungry

00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:54.439
 that he desires

00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:55.219
 to eat something

00:15:55.219 --> 00:15:57.439
 that can never satisfy.

00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:59.099
 Jesus said he was longing

00:15:59.099 --> 00:16:00.379
 to be fed with the pods

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.339
 that the pigs ate.

00:16:01.719 --> 00:16:03.000
 These pods would have been

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.299
 carob pods,

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.699
 which was a hardy plant

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.459
 that produced tough,

00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.539
 leathery pod shells

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:09.159
 with hard beads.

00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:11.000
 They're barely digestible

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.600
 for pigs

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.959
 and they're not digestible

00:16:12.959 --> 00:16:13.480
 for humans,

00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.500
 although I've been informed

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.139
 that they can be ground

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.799
 into something

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.740
 that kind of replaces

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.379
 cocoa powder,

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.539
 so sort of,

00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:20.679
 but I don't think

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.919
 he had a food processor

00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.219
 on hand with him.

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.219
 This is the way of sin.

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.899
 Seeking to be satisfied

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.699
 with that

00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:29.379
 which will never satisfy.

00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:31.399
 This is insanity

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.819
 of the soul

00:16:32.819 --> 00:16:34.600
 and this is people

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.319
 before they're regenerate,

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.399
 before they find

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.500
 their joy and satisfaction.

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.879
 In Christ,

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.939
 seeking satisfaction

00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.620
 with things

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:43.620
 that will never satisfy.

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.120
 We are offered

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.659
 abundant satisfaction

00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:47.559
 in relationship

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.459
 with God,

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.639
 but we turned

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.360
 to worthless things.

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.379
 Jeremiah chapter 2,

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.480
 verse 12 and 13,

00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:55.579
 Be appalled,

00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.079
 O heavens,

00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.519
 at this.

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.179
 Be shocked,

00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.600
 be utterly desolate,

00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.459
 declares the Lord.

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.519
 For my people

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.079
 have committed

00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:02.039
 two evils.

00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.539
 They have forsaken me,

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.259
 the fountain

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.220
 of living waters,

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.920
 and hewed out cisterns

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.539
 for themselves,

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.900
 broken cisterns

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.700
 that can hold

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:11.120
 no water.

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.759
 Paul expresses the same

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.940
 in Romans chapter 1,

00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:15.720
 verse 21 and 22.

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.400
 For although they knew God,

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.259
 they did not honor him

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.240
 as God or give thanks

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:19.620
 to him,

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.039
 but they became futile

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.620
 in their thinking

00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:22.920
 and their foolish hearts

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.700
 were darkened.

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.500
 Claiming to be wise,

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.840
 they became fools.

00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.080
 Christian,

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.100
 you have been delivered

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:30.320
 from such utility

00:17:30.320 --> 00:17:31.700
 by the grace of God.

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.259
 Rejoice in him

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.240
 and remember

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.420
 you have been delivered

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:37.019
 and spared from.

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.480
 If you have not placed

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.100
 believing faith

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:39.819
 in Jesus Christ

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.440
 this morning,

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.420
 take a moment

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.740
 to consider the prodigal

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.200
 and his desperate state.

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.980
 He surely would have died

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.759
 had he stayed

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.500
 in that state.

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.840
 Jesus concludes

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.799
 this portion of the text

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.360
 with a statement

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:52.920
 and no one gave him anything.

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.039
 He had left the goodness

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.200
 of his father's house

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:57.080
 to find himself

00:17:57.080 --> 00:17:58.220
 desperately lost

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.880
 in a foreign land.

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:00.779
 If you were not

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.660
 in Christ this morning,

00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:02.960
 whether you recognize it

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.279
 or not,

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.160
 you find yourself

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:06.319
 in the very same state.

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.740
 Charles Spurgeon

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.599
 once said,

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.899
 if you must play the fool,

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.500
 take some lighter things

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.220
 to trifle with

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.079
 than your souls

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.680
 and your eternal destinies.

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.299
 Shut yourselves up

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.539
 alone for a while.

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.980
 Go through the matter

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.539
 steadily.

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.119
 Lay it out in order.

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.279
 Make a plan of it.

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:25.200
 See where you are going.

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.539
 Think over the way

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.200
 of salvation,

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.559
 the story of the cross,

00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.599
 the love of God,

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.660
 the readiness,

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:32.960
 of Christ to save.

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.039
 So fourthly,

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:37.420
 for the younger son,

00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.379
 we see repentance

00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.920
 and faith.

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.639
 Verse 17

00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:43.299
 and following,

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.039
 but when he came

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.539
 to himself,

00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:45.220
 he said,

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.740
 how many of my father's

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.279
 hired servants

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.599
 have more than enough bread,

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.980
 but I perish here

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.799
 with hunger.

00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.960
 I will arise

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.759
 and go to my father

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.639
 and I will say to him,

00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.019
 father,

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.220
 I have sinned against heaven

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.960
 and before you.

00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:57.319
 I am no longer worthy

00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.139
 to be called your son.

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.220
 Treat me as one

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.819
 of your hired servants.

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.720
 Praise God

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.440
 that the prodigal

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.279
 of Jesus' story

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.140
 does not stay

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:06.220
 in this desperate state,

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.319
 but Jesus says

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:09.319
 he came to himself,

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.900
 that he returned

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:12.460
 to his right mind.

00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:13.799
 He recognized

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.940
 the goodness

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.160
 of his father.

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.200
 He remembered

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.600
 that even his father's

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.799
 hired servants

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.120
 had more than enough bread

00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:22.659
 and that he was

00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:23.519
 being foolish

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.039
 to stay where he was

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.839
 and perish

00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.879
 with hunger.

00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.500
 So he makes a plan.

00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.259
 He decides to go back

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.779
 to his father,

00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:31.599
 humbly admitting

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.639
 the error of his way,

00:19:33.219 --> 00:19:33.479
 saying,

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.239
 I have sinned

00:19:34.239 --> 00:19:34.859
 against heaven

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.719
 and before you

00:19:35.719 --> 00:19:36.759
 and being willing

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:38.079
 to live once again

00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:38.939
 under his father

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:40.179
 good instruction,

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.659
 not as a son

00:19:41.659 --> 00:19:42.399
 this time,

00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.439
 but as a servant.

00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:44.619
 The prodigal

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.899
 turns from his wickedness,

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.859
 the foolish error

00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.439
 of his way.

00:19:47.959 --> 00:19:49.019
 This is called

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.879
 repentance

00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:51.100
 and he turns

00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:51.860
 to his father,

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.240
 believing that his father

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.380
 will be good to him.

00:19:54.820 --> 00:19:56.680
 This is the prodigal's

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.480
 faith.

00:19:58.540 --> 00:20:00.020
 We will see next

00:20:00.020 --> 00:20:01.420
 the loving kindness

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.540
 of the father

00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:03.240
 toward the son

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.100
 as he repents

00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:05.180
 and believes.

00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:06.180
 We will see that

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.060
 as the son returns

00:20:07.060 --> 00:20:07.920
 in repentance and faith,

00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:08.840
 the father becomes

00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:09.840
 humble himself

00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:11.580
 in order to love his son

00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:12.380
 and to spare him

00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:13.800
 from his deserved punishment.

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.220
 The father takes

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.380
 on the son's shame

00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:18.060
 to restore him

00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:19.200
 to sonship

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.880
 and there is

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.740
 much rejoicing.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.460
 Dear listener,

00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:23.120
 if you have not

00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:23.700
 humbled yourself

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.259
 before God,

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:25.380
 recognize that you

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:25.900
 have sought

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.160
 independence from him,

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.059
 that you have lived

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.600
 in a state

00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:29.460
 of indulgence

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.100
 of self,

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:30.960
 that if you are

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.180
 not already there,

00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.500
 you are at risk

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.480
 of an insanity

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.600
 of your soul.

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.840
 My plea to you

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.779
 this morning is

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.000
 flee to Christ.

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.080
 Let this day

00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:40.700
 be a day

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.420
 of repentance

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.660
 and faith,

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.160
 that there will be

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.279
 a great rejoicing

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.880
 in heaven

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.200
 over the salvation

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.440
 of your soul.

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.980
 So let's look now

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.180
 at the father.

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.519
 The sub points

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.059
 for the father

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.779
 are as follows.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.440
 First,

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.299
 the compassion

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.039
 of the father.

00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.440
 Second,

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:58.400
 the son interrupted

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.820
 and restored.

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.700
 You could say

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.360
 the interruption

00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:02.259
 of the father.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.360
 And third,

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.360
 the celebration

00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.440
 of the father

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.820
 and his servants.

00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:07.500
 So first,

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.140
 the compassion

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:09.340
 of the father.

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.480
 The beginning

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.279
 of verse 20 says,

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.220
 and he arose,

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:12.960
 the younger son,

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:14.180
 arose and came

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.000
 to his father.

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.859
 But while he was

00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:17.359
 still a long way off,

00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.639
 his father saw him

00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:20.259
 and felt compassion

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.160
 and ran

00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.059
 and embraced

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.279
 and kissed him.

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.740
 A father

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.480
 with this kind

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.079
 of wealth

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.899
 would have had

00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:27.779
 both a home

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.559
 in the country

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.920
 and a home

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.079
 in town.

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.559
 Right?

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.559
 Most likely,

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.339
 the home in the country

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.740
 would have been

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.799
 the larger home

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.379
 and the place

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.059
 where they stayed

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:36.819
 more often,

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:37.200
 but would have

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.899
 come into town

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.440
 to deal with

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.899
 matters of business

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:41.980
 or attend a celebration

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.360
 or would have

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.200
 had a home there

00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.200
 also to stay in.

00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:45.960
 But here we find

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.380
 the father

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.820
 in the townhome.

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.400
 He is expectant

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.860
 and he is watching.

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.640
 He is eagerly awaiting

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.580
 the return of his son.

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.000
 And when he sees him

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.860
 from a long way off,

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.720
 Jesus tells us

00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.960
 that he felt

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.880
 compassion for him.

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.140
 Customarily,

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.380
 a son such as this

00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.880
 would have returned

00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.480
 and been forced

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.160
 to sit outside

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.660
 of the gate

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.620
 to his father's house

00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.380
 and endure

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.120
 the ridicule

00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:10.880
 of the town.

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.240
 But Jesus says

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.860
 that the father

00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:14.000
 felt compassion.

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.420
 The Greek word

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.660
 used in the original text

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.320
 is stronger

00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:18.440
 than just a momentary

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.560
 feeling of affection,

00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:20.940
 but speaks

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.620
 of a deep love,

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.540
 a visceral,

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:25.060
 a guttural love.

00:22:26.020 --> 00:22:26.800
 This is a father

00:22:26.800 --> 00:22:27.720
 who would have done

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.440
 anything

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:30.020
 for this son.

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.800
 Psalm 103,

00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:32.960
 verse 13

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.780
 speaks of our

00:22:33.780 --> 00:22:34.560
 heavenly father

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:35.240
 as a father

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.180
 shows compassion

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.040
 to his children.

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.240
 So the Lord

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.220
 chose compassion

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.500
 to those

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.559
 who fear him.

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.099
 And this father

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.680
 in the parable

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.980
 upon seeing him

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.700
 and feeling compassion

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:48.659
 runs to him.

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.420
 Men of wealth

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.099
 in this day

00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:52.599
 did not run.

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.359
 Boys ran

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:54.980
 to play.

00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:56.619
 Servants ran

00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.319
 because they were

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.039
 told to.

00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.599
 Men of wealth

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.200
 had people

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.799
 who ran

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.700
 for them.

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.279
 In order for the father

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.180
 to run,

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.340
 he would have

00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:05.920
 had to

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.240
 pull his robe

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.740
 up to his knees,

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.440
 gird up his loins

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.000
 is a phrase

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.539
 you may have

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.840
 heard before.

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.120
 And this was not

00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:15.600
 a dignified thing

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.539
 for the father

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.279
 to do.

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.779
 So just imagine,

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.060
 right,

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:19.299
 again,

00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:19.880
 a parable,

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.820
 but in this setting,

00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.980
 this wealthy man

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.640
 in his town home

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.900
 and the city

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.539
 is seeing

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.440
 what's going on,

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:26.580
 right?

00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:27.080
 They're seeing

00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:27.539
 the son

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.259
 coming from

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.259
 a long way off.

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.240
 They're anticipating

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.200
 that this father

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.060
 is going to shame

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.119
 this son,

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.379
 right,

00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.539
 who rejected him

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.519
 as the father.

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.379
 And what they see

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:37.279
 instead,

00:23:37.679 --> 00:23:37.839
 right,

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.419
 is a man

00:23:38.419 --> 00:23:39.679
 who shames himself,

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.240
 right,

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.119
 picks up his robe

00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.159
 to race

00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.759
 outside of the town

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.539
 and to meet

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.299
 the son.

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.940
 Like the father

00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.039
 of Jesus' parable,

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.599
 God humbled himself,

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.619
 became a man,

00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:54.759
 and suffered

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.299
 and died

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.220
 in our stead.

00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.460
 Hebrews 12,

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.099
 2 states

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.579
 that Jesus

00:23:58.579 --> 00:24:00.059
 endured the cross,

00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.139
 despising

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:02.020
 the shame.

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.740
 In Philippians 2,

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.560
 verse 6

00:24:04.560 --> 00:24:05.240
 and following,

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:05.840
 says Jesus,

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.600
 who though he was

00:24:06.600 --> 00:24:07.600
 in the form of God,

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.600
 did not count

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.660
 equality with God

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.940
 a thing to be grasped,

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.240
 but emptied himself

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.380
 by taking the form

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:14.120
 of a servant,

00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:15.720
 being born in the likeness

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.120
 of men

00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:16.860
 and being found

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.700
 in human form,

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.080
 he humbled himself

00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:20.060
 by becoming obedient

00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:21.160
 to the point of death,

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.080
 even death

00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.980
 on a cross.

00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:24.060
 And so,

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.100
 I do believe

00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.920
 that we are meant

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.560
 to see

00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:27.280
 the kindness

00:24:27.280 --> 00:24:28.160
 of the father

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.960
 in the person

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.480
 and work

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.720
 of Jesus Christ.

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.259
 So,

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.500
 the parable,

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.740
 certainly the father

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.579
 could be considered

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.819
 God the father,

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:37.299
 but how did he accomplish

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:39.579
 his humility?

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.259
 Well,

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:40.839
 through Jesus.

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.319
 So,

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:41.980
 I think Jesus

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.660
 is the father

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:44.160
 in the text,

00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.420
 showing this love

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.220
 and compassion

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.079
 for a wayward son.

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.059
 So,

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.140
 he runs to him

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:52.160
 and then he embraces him

00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.839
 and he kisses him.

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.460
 He fell on his neck

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.860
 and kissed him

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:58.140
 repeatedly.

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.640
 John MacArthur

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.900
 says of this

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.980
 phrase,

00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.600
 the prodigal

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.259
 came home

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.240
 prepared to kiss

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.780
 his father's feet.

00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:06.820
 Instead,

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.660
 the father

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.300
 was kissing

00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:09.280
 the prodigal's

00:25:09.280 --> 00:25:11.060
 pig-stinking head.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.280
 What a picture

00:25:12.280 --> 00:25:13.800
 of compassion,

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.100
 loving kindness

00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:16.420
 towards this son.

00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:17.440
 But the father's

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:17.880
 compassion

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:19.360
 did not stop there.

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:19.759
 We see,

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.180
 secondly,

00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:20.800
 the son

00:25:20.800 --> 00:25:21.780
 interrupted

00:25:21.780 --> 00:25:23.500
 and restored.

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.380
 And the son

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.079
 said to him,

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:25.519
 Father,

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.359
 I have sinned

00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:26.940
 against heaven

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.799
 and before you.

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.940
 I am no longer

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.539
 worthy to be called

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.180
 your son.

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.259
 And that's where

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:34.099
 his speech stops.

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.200
 And this is a variance

00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.119
 on his planned speech.

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.779
 If you look at the

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:39.460
 end of verse 18,

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:39.859
 he says,

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.140
 Father,

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.559
 I have sinned

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.000
 against heaven

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.759
 and before you.

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.920
 I am no longer

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.759
 worthy to be called

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.359
 your son.

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.039
 And then he says,

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.380
 treat me as one

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:48.339
 of your hired servants.

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.299
 So,

00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.059
 he's interrupted,

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:50.640
 right?

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.640
 He has rehearsed

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.160
 this speech.

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.920
 He has likely

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.940
 said this over

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.460
 and over

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.920
 and over

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.620
 in his head

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.480
 as he has

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.580
 journeyed home.

00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.480
 And he doesn't

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.259
 get the last

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.540
 sentence out

00:26:00.540 --> 00:26:01.420
 because the father

00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:02.840
 interrupts him

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.759
 and says to his

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.180
 servants,

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:04.840
 bring quickly

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.420
 the best robe

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.019
 and put it on him

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.700
 and put a ring

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.600
 on his hand

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.220
 and shoes

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.380
 on his feet.

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.060
 Now,

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:10.900
 the best robe

00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.060
 was an extremely

00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:13.360
 significant article

00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.300
 of clothing.

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.800
 Every wealthy man

00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:16.380
 would own

00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:17.540
 an ornate robe

00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:18.279
 made of the

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.660
 finest fabric

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.660
 that were reserved

00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.740
 for the most

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:23.339
 special of events.

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.720
 This was a robe

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.420
 that the owner

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.220
 wouldn't wear

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:28.059
 to another child's

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.319
 wedding.

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:28.819
 So,

00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.599
 it wasn't even,

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.259
 the other child's

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.680
 wedding wasn't

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.259
 worthy of it,

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.980
 but only to the

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.759
 weddings of their

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.180
 own children.

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:35.920
 It was reserved

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.799
 for very,

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.059
 very special

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.120
 instances.

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.660
 Giving him

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.380
 this robe

00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:42.299
 granted him

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.259
 more honor

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.640
 than was ever

00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.960
 normally bestowed

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.880
 upon a son.

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.299
 The son didn't

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:48.720
 get to wear

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.259
 the robe,

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.859
 it was the

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.500
 father's

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:50.940
 to wear

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.519
 and only

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.259
 in very

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.200
 special

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.480
 circumstances.

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:54.839
 So,

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.319
 this was a

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.240
 massive way

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.619
 for this

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.180
 father to

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.640
 say,

00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:58.940
 this is

00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.099
 my son,

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.640
 to bring him

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.420
 back into

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:01.859
 town,

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.140
 right,

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.440
 under

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.519
 everybody's

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.559
 watch and

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:04.799
 saying,

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.259
 I'm taking

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.839
 my very

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.460
 best robe

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:06.759
 and I'm

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.299
 giving it

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.200
 to him.

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.660
 2 Corinthians

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.720
 chapter 5

00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.500
 verse 21,

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.619
 Paul writes,

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.339
 for our sake

00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.039
 he made him

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.680
 to be sin

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.579
 who knew

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.240
 no sin

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.039
 so that

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.779
 in him

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.620
 we might

00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.299
 become

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.880
 the

00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.299
 righteousness

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.240
 of God.

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.019
 Way more

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.620
 honor

00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.500
 than we

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.640
 deserve.

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:26.799
 And he

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.900
 gives a

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.559
 ring to him

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:28.799
 and this

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.259
 ring would

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.500
 have been

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.700
 a

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.180
 senient

00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:30.500
 ring

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:30.759
 which had

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:30.900
 been

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.220
 carried

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.599
 by the

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.000
 family

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.420
 crest

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.019
 or seal

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.680
 so that

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:33.779
 it could

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.299
 be pressed

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.039
 into wax

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.640
 on formal

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:35.960
 letters

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.759
 or documents

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.940
 as verification

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.960
 of legal

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.980
 authority.

00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:40.599
 So in

00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.079
 placing a

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.400
 ring on

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:41.759
 the finger

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.220
 of a son,

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.599
 the father

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:42.859
 is not

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.259
 only showing

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.720
 the son

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.680
 has restored

00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:45.220
 honor,

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.380
 but also

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.180
 restored

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.319
 authority.

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.799
 2 Corinthians

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.620
 chapter 5

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.360
 verse 20

00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:51.839
 the first

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.259
 path.

00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:52.660
 Therefore

00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.559
 we are

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.180
 ambassadors

00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.000
 for Christ

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:56.180
 God making

00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.920
 his appeal

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.019
 through us.

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:58.960
 Restored

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.500
 honor,

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.519
 restored

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.500
 authority.

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.319
 And he

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.000
 puts shoes

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.400
 on his

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.700
 feet.

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:04.980
 Hired

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.380
 servants

00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:05.980
 and household

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.519
 slaves

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.180
 customarily

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.579
 went

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.519
 barefoot.

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.339
 Masters

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.019
 and their

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.660
 sons

00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.720
 wore shoes.

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.500
 So to

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.000
 have shoes

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.539
 placed on

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.000
 the son's

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.440
 feet was

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:14.740
 yet

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.720
 another

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.420
 gesture

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.120
 of

00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.660
 restoration

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.400
 towards

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:18.620
 this

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:18.900
 son.

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.240
 1 John

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.940
 chapter 3

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.259
 beginning

00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.460
 of

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:21.980
 verse 1

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.940
 see what

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.359
 kind of

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:23.880
 love the

00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:24.420
 father has

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.140
 given to

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.359
 or lavished

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.259
 on us

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.099
 that we

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:28.460
 should be

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:28.940
 called

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.519
 children

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.400
 of God

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.339
 and so

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.940
 we are.

00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:33.500
 Jesus

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.079
 tells us

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.880
 even more

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.339
 about the

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:35.880
 father's

00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:36.819
 compassion.

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:37.339
 Third

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:37.680
 point,

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.480
 the celebration

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:38.980
 of the

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.640
 father and

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.279
 his servants.

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.779
 He asked

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.180
 the servants

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.740
 to bring

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.319
 the fattened

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:43.759
 calf and

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.160
 kill it.

00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.420
 This is

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:45.060
 verse 23.

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.460
 And let

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:45.920
 us eat

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.779
 and celebrate

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.400
 for this

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:47.880
 my son

00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.440
 was dead

00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:48.779
 and is

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.320
 alive again.

00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.640
 He was

00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.240
 lost and

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.680
 is found

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.040
 and they

00:28:51.040 --> 00:28:51.420
 began

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.700
 to celebrate.

00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.680
 To slaughter

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.279
 the fattened

00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.860
 calf was

00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.700
 a big

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.300
 deal.

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:56.880
 It is

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.360
 likely a

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:58.120
 calf such

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.600
 as this

00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.519
 one that

00:28:59.519 --> 00:28:59.779
 would have

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.380
 been set

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.000
 aside in

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.540
 preparation

00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:02.000
 for the

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.700
 wedding feast

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.220
 of the

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.180
 eldest son

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.259
 reserved for

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.019
 a special

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.060
 occasion.

00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.519
 For this

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.040
 my son

00:29:09.040 --> 00:29:09.600
 was dead

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:09.820
 and is

00:29:09.820 --> 00:29:10.480
 alive again.

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:10.839
 he was

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.960
 lost and

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.460
 is found.

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.400
 There's

00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:13.980
 the special

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.579
 occasion.

00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.099
 There's

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.839
 the wonderful

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.740
 reason for

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.700
 rejoicing.

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.440
 The son

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:18.900
 was dead

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.240
 and now

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.700
 is alive.

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.019
 He was

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.839
 lost and

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.720
 now is

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.099
 found.

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.480
 And if

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.019
 you think

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.839
 back into

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.120
 chapter 15,

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.680
 the beginning

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.180
 of it,

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.120
 what man of

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.519
 you having

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.920
 a hundred

00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.279
 sheep,

00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.599
 if he has

00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.099
 lost one

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.319
 of them,

00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:29.660
 does not

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.220
 leave the

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.799
 ninety-nine

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.019
 in the

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.579
 open country

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:31.920
 and go

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.420
 after the

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.700
 one that

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.279
 is lost

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:33.940
 until he

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.860
 finds it?

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.559
 Or what

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.160
 woman having

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.860
 ten silver

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.220
 coins,

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.740
 if she loses

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.359
 one coin,

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:38.660
 does not

00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.079
 light a

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.519
 lamp and

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:39.859
 sweep the

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.279
 house and

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.940
 seek diligently

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:42.500
 until she

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.660
 finds it?

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.000
 And then

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.660
 there's this

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.859
 rejoicing,

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.460
 right?

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.640
 Verse five,

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.059
 when he has

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.559
 found it,

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.180
 he lays it

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.460
 on his

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.720
 shoulders,

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.559
 rejoicing.

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.420
 When he

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:51.960
 comes home,

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.359
 he calls

00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:52.859
 together his

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.279
 friends and

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.640
 his neighbors,

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.079
 saying to

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.240
 them,

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.920
 rejoice with

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.039
 me,

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.460
 for I have

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.019
 found my

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.940
 sheep that

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.539
 was lost.

00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.140
 Just so I

00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:58.500
 tell you,

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:58.859
 there will be

00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.700
 more joy in

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.160
 heaven over

00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:00.740
 one sinner

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.319
 who repents

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.079
 than over

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.920
 ninety-nine

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.359
 righteous

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.980
 persons who

00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.019
 need no

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.480
 repentance.

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.099
 And verse

00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.859
 nine,

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.559
 when she

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.559
 found it,

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.019
 she calls

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.559
 together her

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:09.959
 friends and

00:30:09.959 --> 00:30:10.159
 neighbors,

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.419
 saying,

00:30:10.479 --> 00:30:11.039
 rejoice with

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.179
 me,

00:30:11.199 --> 00:30:11.419
 for I

00:30:11.419 --> 00:30:12.059
 found the

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:13.139
 coin that

00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:14.039
 I had

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.459
 lost.

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.319
 Just so I

00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:15.679
 tell you,

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.279
 there's joy

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:16.819
 before the

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.279
 angels of

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.740
 God over

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.559
 one sinner

00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.979
 who repents.

00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.419
 The rejoicing

00:30:21.419 --> 00:30:22.259
 in heaven is

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.159
 and will be

00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:23.939
 great over

00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.479
 the salvation

00:30:24.479 --> 00:30:25.019
 of souls,

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.439
 because it

00:30:25.439 --> 00:30:26.219
 displays the

00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:27.599
 goodness of

00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:27.939
 God the

00:30:27.939 --> 00:30:28.199
 Father.

00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.299
 It is this

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.000
 goodness that

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.599
 Jesus speaks

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.099
 of as he

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.979
 tells his

00:30:31.979 --> 00:30:32.419
 parables,

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.039
 that his

00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.539
 hearers would

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.979
 see the

00:30:33.979 --> 00:30:34.639
 compassion of

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.079
 the Father,

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.939
 the Son

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.000
 interrupted and

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.080
 restored in

00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:38.640
 the celebration

00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.259
 of the Father

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.299
 and his

00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:41.039
 servants,

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:41.740
 and be given

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.820
 much reason to

00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:43.880
 join in the

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:45.460
 rejoicing of

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:45.740
 heaven.

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.019
 Now, as Jesus

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.500
 is about to

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.420
 drive home the

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:48.799
 point, the

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.279
 whole point of

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.720
 this parable,

00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.500
 recall that for

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.740
 us this story is

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.980
 so endearing,

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.380
 right?

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.559
 Up to this point,

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.360
 we love to

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:55.960
 consider a

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.660
 wayward son

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.480
 returning home

00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:57.779
 and being

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.539
 embraced by

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.080
 his Father,

00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.200
 but the

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.820
 Pharisees and

00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.440
 the scribes

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:01.920
 would have been

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.400
 astonished that

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:03.920
 the Father would

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.440
 have treated

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.019
 such a

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.039
 disrespectful son

00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:06.840
 in this manner,

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.160
 right?

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.019
 They are still

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:09.019
 angry at the

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.900
 son, right?

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.160
 We're so glad

00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:11.539
 for the

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.560
 restoration and

00:31:12.560 --> 00:31:13.420
 the celebration.

00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:15.000
 They're indignant

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.460
 at this point.

00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:17.940
 The younger son

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.800
 in asking for his

00:31:18.800 --> 00:31:19.460
 inheritance was

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.019
 wishing the

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.560
 father dead,

00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.380
 and the Pharisees

00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.100
 and the scribes

00:31:22.100 --> 00:31:23.320
 could not fathom a

00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:24.300
 father that would

00:31:24.300 --> 00:31:25.180
 love his son in

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:26.180
 this way, right?

00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:27.440
 At this point,

00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.259
 they would have

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.259
 been furious,

00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:29.660
 right?

00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:30.500
 The scribes and

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.279
 the Pharisees are

00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.600
 represented by the

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:34.219
 older brother in

00:31:34.219 --> 00:31:34.759
 the story,

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.179
 right?

00:31:35.439 --> 00:31:36.259
 They are having

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.019
 the emotions,

00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:37.879
 as Jesus tells

00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.359
 us to his

00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.299
 original hearers,

00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:40.539
 that the brother

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.439
 is about to

00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:43.000
 express in the

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.299
 story.

00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.819
 They see Jesus

00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:46.079
 with tax collectors

00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:46.919
 and sinners

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.659
 drawing near to

00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:48.819
 him, and they

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:50.159
 as self-righteous

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.219
 religious elites

00:31:51.219 --> 00:31:52.319
 want to preserve

00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:53.959
 their status as

00:31:53.959 --> 00:31:54.379
 such.

00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:55.539
 They would never

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.599
 want the reputations

00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.339
 of those drawing

00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.099
 near to Jesus to

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.839
 solely their

00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.199
 reputations, and

00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:01.179
 they, as we will

00:32:01.179 --> 00:32:02.199
 see, want nothing

00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:03.420
 to do with a

00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.920
 God that would

00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.539
 love the younger

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.880
 brothers of the

00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.240
 world.

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.380
 May we not be

00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:10.340
 those people.

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.460
 So let's look at

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.640
 the older son.

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.220
 Sub points for the

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.640
 older son.

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.460
 I know this is a

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.640
 lot.

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.720
 I hope it will

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.200
 serve you.

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.460
 The failing love

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.539
 of the eldest son

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.360
 for his father,

00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:24.360
 the failing love

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:25.160
 of the oldest son

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.860
 for his younger

00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:27.319
 brother, and the

00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.960
 unfailing love of

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.299
 the father for his

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:30.980
 oldest son.

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.900
 verse 28.

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.299
 He was angry and

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.059
 refused to go in.

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:37.000
 His father came

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.539
 out and entreated

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.980
 with him, but he

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.940
 answered his father,

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.779
 look, these many

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.640
 years I have served

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.380
 you, and I never

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.059
 disobeyed your

00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:45.339
 command, yet you

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.140
 never gave me a

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:46.940
 young goat that I

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:48.180
 might celebrate with

00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:48.920
 my friends.

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.460
 The oldest son is

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.720
 furious, and he is

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:53.279
 furious with the

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:53.640
 father.

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.579
 He stands outside

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.299
 fuming.

00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.120
 Why?

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.839
 Because his

00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.939
 perceived rights

00:32:59.939 --> 00:33:00.759
 have been trampled

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.139
 upon.

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.719
 Because he didn't

00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.459
 run about seeking

00:33:03.459 --> 00:33:04.319
 his pleasure like his

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:05.000
 younger brother, but

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.239
 stayed and shouldered

00:33:06.239 --> 00:33:07.139
 more than his fair

00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:08.359
 share of the work on

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:09.239
 his father's estate.

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:11.679
 He wants justice, not

00:33:11.679 --> 00:33:12.399
 mercy.

00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.579
 He wants his younger

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.859
 brother to get what is

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.539
 coming to him.

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.799
 He wants him punished,

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.599
 not celebrated.

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:20.659
 And so he begins to

00:33:20.659 --> 00:33:21.199
 grumble.

00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:21.679
 Right?

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:23.479
 Look, these many years

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:23.940
 I have served.

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.599
 I have never

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:26.140
 disobeyed your

00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.579
 command.

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.480
 Is it true that the

00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.700
 oldest son was never

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.360
 disobedient?

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.559
 Of course not.

00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:33.039
 No one is ever

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:35.039
 perfectly obedient, but

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.680
 his perception is that

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.720
 he has been perfectly

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.599
 obedient.

00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:41.500
 He is self-righteous.

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.599
 He believes that he

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.480
 has been perfectly

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.599
 good, or at least

00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:45.720
 good enough to earn

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:47.220
 his father's favor.

00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:49.140
 This was the state of

00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:51.079
 the Pharisees and the

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.799
 scribes.

00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.639
 Luke chapter 5,

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.779
 verse 30 through 32.

00:33:54.919 --> 00:33:55.799
 And the Pharisees and

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.940
 their scribes grumbled

00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.579
 at his disciples,

00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:58.039
 saying,

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.339
 Why do you eat and

00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.099
 drink with tax

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:01.639
 collectors and sinners?

00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:03.059
 And Jesus answered

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:03.419
 them,

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.720
 Those who are well

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.799
 have no need of a

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:07.019
 physician, but those

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:08.119
 who are sick.

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.259
 I have not come to

00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:10.039
 call the righteous,

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:10.860
 but sinners,

00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.159
 to repentance.

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.259
 Is Jesus suggesting

00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:15.179
 that the Pharisees and

00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:16.539
 the scribes are well?

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:18.159
 Absolutely not.

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.539
 He is addressing their

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.800
 perception of

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.239
 themselves.

00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:22.319
 He is saying,

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.859
 You do not see that

00:34:23.859 --> 00:34:24.979
 you are sick, so

00:34:24.979 --> 00:34:26.099
 therefore you do not

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:28.000
 see your need of a

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.459
 physician.

00:34:29.299 --> 00:34:30.500
 In Matthew chapter 23,

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.500
 verse 27 and

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.479
 following, Jesus says,

00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:33.959
 Woe to you, scribes

00:34:33.959 --> 00:34:34.759
 and Pharisees,

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:36.379
 hypocrites, for you

00:34:36.379 --> 00:34:37.399
 are like whitewashed

00:34:37.399 --> 00:34:38.639
 tombs, which outwardly

00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:40.039
 appear beautiful, but

00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:41.399
 within are full of dead

00:34:41.399 --> 00:34:42.859
 people's bones and all

00:34:42.859 --> 00:34:43.619
 uncleanliness.

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:45.599
 So you also outwardly

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.399
 appear righteous to

00:34:46.399 --> 00:34:47.359
 others, but within are

00:34:47.359 --> 00:34:49.199
 full of hypocrisy and

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.759
 lawlessness.

00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:49.940
 righteousness.

00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.880
 The Pharisees and the

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.940
 scribes should have

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.920
 seen themselves in the

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.920
 older brother and been

00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.940
 broken by their self-righteous

00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:58.080
 indignation toward the

00:34:58.080 --> 00:34:59.800
 younger sons who were

00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:01.600
 gathering around Jesus.

00:35:02.060 --> 00:35:03.000
 They should have humbled

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.440
 themselves and turned to

00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.660
 the one who is telling

00:35:05.660 --> 00:35:07.360
 them this very story.

00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:08.400
 They should have done so in

00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.700
 the spirit of Matthew 5,

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.200
 3.

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:12.040
 Blessed are the poor in

00:35:12.040 --> 00:35:13.940
 spirit, for theirs is the

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.900
 kingdom of heaven.

00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:17.160
 Mankind's issue before God

00:35:17.160 --> 00:35:18.039
 has never been one of

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:19.400
 outward activity, but

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:20.900
 rather one of inward

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.579
 affection.

00:35:22.280 --> 00:35:23.840
 God wants our affections to

00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:25.700
 be set on him, which

00:35:25.700 --> 00:35:27.200
 yields obedience, but that

00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:28.760
 obedience is ultimately for

00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.220
 God.

00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.519
 It is aimed at him to

00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:32.740
 please him and glorify him.

00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:35.000
 The older son is not

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.240
 obedient in order to

00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:38.139
 please his father, but to

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:39.800
 get what he can from him.

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.059
 Look what he goes on to

00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.380
 say.

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:43.260
 I have been so perfectly

00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:44.539
 obedient, yet you have

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.920
 never given me a young

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.200
 goat that I might celebrate

00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:49.380
 with my friends.

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:51.940
 He is angry at the father's

00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:53.720
 celebration over the return

00:35:53.720 --> 00:35:55.200
 of his younger brother, not

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:56.740
 because he has not been

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.700
 celebrated, but because he

00:35:57.700 --> 00:35:58.599
 has not been given something

00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.900
 material so that he might

00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:01.519
 celebrate with his friends.

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:03.340
 He wants nothing to do with

00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:04.740
 the father, just like the

00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:06.360
 younger son wanted nothing

00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.780
 to do with his father.

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:10.340
 They both want, in the case

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:12.539
 of the younger brother, wanted

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:14.380
 him dead, right?

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:16.360
 The oldest brother failed to

00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:17.980
 love the father.

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:21.519
 Remember verse 11 and 12.

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:23.579
 And he said, there was a

00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:25.440
 man who had two sons, and

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.579
 the younger of them said to

00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:28.039
 his father, Father, give me

00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:29.120
 the share of property that is

00:36:29.120 --> 00:36:29.860
 coming to me.

00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.640
 And he, the father, divided

00:36:31.640 --> 00:36:34.559
 his property between them, the

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.019
 sons.

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:37.120
 Note verse 31.

00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:39.000
 And the father said to him,

00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.960
 Son, you are always with me,

00:36:41.319 --> 00:36:44.940
 and all that is mine is yours.

00:36:45.880 --> 00:36:48.119
 He already had everything.

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:50.480
 What the father wanted was his

00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:52.719
 affection, but he did not want

00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:53.500
 the father.

00:36:54.319 --> 00:36:55.699
 So this morning, you may have

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:57.079
 never placed believing faith in

00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:57.599
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:57.699 --> 00:36:58.579
 You look really good on the

00:36:58.579 --> 00:37:00.819
 outside, but your obedience, your

00:37:00.819 --> 00:37:03.159
 imperfect obedience, I must add,

00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:05.420
 is not aimed at the pleasure and

00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:07.039
 glory of God, but at yourself.

00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:09.039
 You think that if you live just

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:10.960
 so, you will earn God's favor, and

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:13.480
 this is a damning thought.

00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:15.599
 Do not be like the older brother.

00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:17.400
 Turn to God in Christ.

00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:19.440
 Recognize that no amount of your

00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:21.000
 working will ever earn you a

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:22.659
 place in his kingdom.

00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:25.059
 But the offer of the gospel is

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.820
 that by faith in the perfect life,

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.920
 the perfect death, and the

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:30.000
 resurrection of Jesus Christ, you

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:31.480
 can have your record of guilt

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:33.320
 expunged, and you can have the

00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:34.720
 righteousness of Jesus.

00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:36.860
 You can be saved from God's wrath,

00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:40.280
 by God's mercy, to God's presence.

00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:42.700
 What a glorious truth.

00:37:43.660 --> 00:37:45.860
 Now, some of you have placed

00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:47.039
 believing faith in Christ, but we

00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:48.539
 are so quick to forget the great

00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:50.000
 love of the Father for us, and so

00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:52.220
 quick to either presume upon his

00:37:52.220 --> 00:37:54.080
 grace with licentious living, or

00:37:54.080 --> 00:37:56.400
 believe we can earn his grace with

00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:57.059
 legalism.

00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:59.240
 Beloved, you are saved by grace

00:37:59.240 --> 00:38:00.880
 alone, through faith alone.

00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:02.960
 Your faith will produce obedience

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.820
 in you, but let it be from a

00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:06.420
 grateful heart that loves to

00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:08.940
 please and glorify God the

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.200
 Father.

00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:12.119
 Secondly, let's look at the failing

00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:13.880
 love of the oldest son for his

00:38:13.880 --> 00:38:15.059
 younger brother.

00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:17.099
 He says, but when this son of

00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:19.140
 yours came, who has devoured your

00:38:19.140 --> 00:38:21.480
 property with prostitutes, you

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:23.500
 killed the fattened calf for him.

00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.740
 Notice that he does not say, when

00:38:25.740 --> 00:38:26.940
 my younger brother came.

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:29.059
 He says, when this son of yours

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:31.739
 came, he disowns his brother.

00:38:32.219 --> 00:38:33.679
 But this had happened long before

00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:35.320
 in Jesus' story.

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:37.259
 The oldest brother made no

00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:38.920
 attempt to reason with his

00:38:38.920 --> 00:38:39.380
 younger brother.

00:38:39.880 --> 00:38:41.119
 He did not try to stop him from

00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:42.420
 sinning against the Father so

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:44.480
 egregiously, and he did not seek

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:46.279
 his return and restoration.

00:38:46.779 --> 00:38:48.559
 It appears that the oldest brother

00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:50.380
 knew where his younger brother was

00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:53.119
 and what he was up to, but he did

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.400
 not go to him.

00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:56.440
 He says, he has devoured your

00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:58.019
 property with prostitutes.

00:38:58.019 --> 00:39:00.099
 How would he know such a thing?

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:02.880
 The oldest brother failed to love

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.860
 the younger brother.

00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:05.599
 At this point, if you were in

00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:08.440
 Christ, I want you to long for the

00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:10.099
 younger brother to have a better

00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:11.259
 oldest brother.

00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:12.920
 A brother that would humble

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.880
 himself by going on a long

00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:16.619
 journey for his younger brother's

00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:17.719
 return and restoration.

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:19.920
 A brother who would gladly share his

00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:20.880
 inheritance with his younger

00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:21.179
 brother.

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:22.639
 A brother who leads his younger

00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:24.699
 brother in a grateful obedience.

00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:26.539
 A brother who would rejoice to see

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:28.340
 his father rejoice in the return

00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:29.500
 of his son.

00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:33.880
 Praise God that we have a perfect

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:35.980
 older brother in Jesus Christ.

00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:37.840
 But that is not this brother.

00:39:38.179 --> 00:39:39.360
 That is not this brother.

00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:42.179
 He says, you killed the fattened calf

00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:42.659
 for him.

00:39:43.119 --> 00:39:45.719
 Do you hear the Pharisees and scribes

00:39:45.719 --> 00:39:47.539
 in the older brother's accusation?

00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:51.139
 He is saying, you have received a

00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:52.900
 sinner and are eating with him.

00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:54.960
 This is the very accusation they

00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:56.800
 were making at the beginning of Luke

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:58.199
 chapter 15.

00:39:58.840 --> 00:40:00.460
 If the oldest brother loved the

00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:02.960
 father, he would have also loved what

00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:04.440
 the father loves.

00:40:05.259 --> 00:40:07.219
 You may find yourself this morning in

00:40:07.219 --> 00:40:09.000
 Christ, but loving what the world

00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:09.679
 loves.

00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:11.579
 What does the father love?

00:40:12.219 --> 00:40:15.119
 The father loves the restoration of his

00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.719
 sons.

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:18.199
 The parable of the lost sheep and the

00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:20.079
 parable of the lost coined are about

00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:22.500
 the rejoicing in heaven over sinners

00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:23.839
 who repent.

00:40:24.359 --> 00:40:27.460
 Jesus says in Luke 19 10, for the son

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:30.739
 of man came to seek and to save the

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:31.119
 lost.

00:40:32.699 --> 00:40:34.480
 Lastly, let's look at the unfailing love

00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:36.139
 of the father for his oldest son.

00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:38.259
 Verse 31.

00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:41.239
 And he said to him, son, you were always

00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:43.139
 with me and all that is mine is yours.

00:40:43.139 --> 00:40:45.519
 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad

00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:47.400
 for this your brother was dead and is

00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:47.779
 alive.

00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:50.039
 He was lost and is found.

00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:53.319
 The father extends the same love he has

00:40:53.319 --> 00:40:54.900
 for the younger brother to the oldest

00:40:54.900 --> 00:40:55.319
 brother.

00:40:55.819 --> 00:40:57.960
 The father's love is unfailing.

00:40:58.799 --> 00:41:01.779
 When he was angry and refused to go in,

00:41:01.940 --> 00:41:04.859
 the father came out and entreated him.

00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:05.079
 Right?

00:41:05.139 --> 00:41:08.099
 The host of the party left the party to

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:09.839
 go out to the older son.

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.139
 Right?

00:41:10.139 --> 00:41:12.519
 And he entreated him, which means he urged

00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:15.179
 or implored or encouraged him to come in

00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:17.199
 and to join the celebration.

00:41:17.879 --> 00:41:19.359
 The father could have justly been angry

00:41:19.359 --> 00:41:21.279
 with the oldest son for fuming outside.

00:41:21.759 --> 00:41:23.179
 He could have sent a message to him

00:41:23.179 --> 00:41:25.519
 via a servant, but he comes to him

00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:27.460
 personally and he entreats him.

00:41:27.579 --> 00:41:28.679
 Don't be this way.

00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:30.199
 You are my son.

00:41:30.539 --> 00:41:32.099
 Love what I love.

00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:35.079
 Love what I love because I love you.

00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:37.639
 And I hope to help you see the

00:41:37.639 --> 00:41:38.480
 connection, right?

00:41:38.799 --> 00:41:41.059
 He entreats him, join in the rejoicing

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:44.859
 of heaven for it was fitting to celebrate

00:41:44.859 --> 00:41:46.319
 and be glad.

00:41:47.179 --> 00:41:49.400
 So you see God's sons love what he loves

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:51.019
 and he loves to see sinners come to

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:51.379
 repentance.

00:41:52.019 --> 00:41:54.019
 He loves to restore those who are poor in

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:55.859
 spirit to love those who return to him

00:41:55.859 --> 00:41:56.659
 in humility.

00:41:57.339 --> 00:41:58.900
 The Pharisees and the scribes were showing

00:41:58.900 --> 00:42:01.859
 themselves to not be God's sons as they

00:42:01.859 --> 00:42:04.159
 grumbled saying, this man received

00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:05.420
 sinners and eats with them.

00:42:05.799 --> 00:42:08.000
 Jesus tells them three parables

00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:10.219
 as a mercy to them.

00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:12.920
 This is Jesus going out to them,

00:42:12.980 --> 00:42:14.420
 outside of the celebration,

00:42:15.079 --> 00:42:17.259
 and urging them to come in

00:42:17.259 --> 00:42:19.319
 and be part of the celebration.

00:42:20.539 --> 00:42:22.799
 Did they heed the warning?

00:42:23.420 --> 00:42:26.359
 They certainly did not heed his warning.

00:42:27.019 --> 00:42:29.920
 There's a real life epilogue to this

00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:30.239
 parable.

00:42:30.379 --> 00:42:31.980
 It's not an epilogue that Jesus

00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:32.800
 mentions.

00:42:33.480 --> 00:42:35.780
 It's an epilogue that Jesus lives.

00:42:35.780 --> 00:42:37.740
 And it would have been told something

00:42:37.740 --> 00:42:38.619
 like this.

00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:41.719
 You could insert this final sentence.

00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:45.300
 The oldest son, in his rage against the

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:49.440
 father, beat him, spit on him, mocked him,

00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:51.440
 and crucified him.

00:42:52.340 --> 00:42:56.699
 This is the end of this story.

00:42:56.699 --> 00:43:00.460
 And we do not want to be counted amongst

00:43:00.460 --> 00:43:04.339
 the oldest brothers in the way we respond

00:43:04.339 --> 00:43:06.839
 to the loving kindness of God towards

00:43:06.839 --> 00:43:07.299
 sinners.

00:43:08.699 --> 00:43:11.699
 Praise be to God that he purposed that

00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:13.179
 Jesus should die, that by the hands of

00:43:13.179 --> 00:43:14.739
 wicked men our Savior was murdered,

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:17.480
 but that three days later he declared victory

00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:19.460
 over sin and death when he was raised

00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:21.699
 from the dead, and that now we by faith

00:43:21.699 --> 00:43:23.419
 may have life in him.

00:43:23.420 --> 00:43:27.800
 What they meant for evil, God meant for good.

00:43:28.220 --> 00:43:30.360
 This morning, let us rejoice in the unfailing

00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:34.099
 love of the Father, and let that be a love that

00:43:34.099 --> 00:43:38.619
 turns us in compassion, the compassion of the

00:43:38.619 --> 00:43:40.720
 Father towards others.

00:43:41.320 --> 00:43:44.260
 We ought never be, as redeemed people,

00:43:44.420 --> 00:43:48.599
 ever be people who seek our own status,

00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:52.519
 want to fight for our rights.

00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:55.219
 We ought to be going out in love and compassion

00:43:55.219 --> 00:43:57.679
 for the younger brothers of the world.

00:43:57.920 --> 00:44:00.279
 I do pray that that will be true of us.

00:44:00.720 --> 00:44:00.860
 Let us pray that we need someikkers.

00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860


00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:00.860