Overview
Jesus was being questioned about the sinners and publicans who were drawing near to him. Instead of defending Himself He tells three stories. In each of the stories something has been lost and must be found. In the first two we see the owner going on the offensive and looking diligently until the lost is found. Having found what was lost the owner rejoices with friends and neighbors, thus showing the joy that is in heaven over one sinner that repents. Christ is herein answering the Pharisees’ questioning by showing that he has lost His sheep and has come for them. “This is the entire reason I am here, don’t you see I came for these sinners.” That’s how I would have answered. But Christ’s answer was Luke 15, an answer that has blessed mankind for two thousand years.
2.The Son, the Spirit, and the Father
Each parable tells a story, yet each is unique. One wonders what the significance of there being three stories as opposed to some other number. The universe is three: space, time, and matter. Man is three: body, soul, and spirit, and God is triune: Father, Son, and Spirit. We can make a connection in the stories themselves.
a. The lost sheep: This parable can be likened unto Jesus himself as the Shepherd who has a lost sheep. He comes for it and when He finds it lays the scared, hungry, and lost sheep across His shoulders and carries him back home.
b. The lost coin: The Holy Spirit is like unto the woman who has lost her coin. She comes into the house and finding the coin missing cleans diligently until it be found. Even so the Holy Spirit comes into us. He finds his home to be a filthy mess and starts to clean it up. He does so until the time he can finally see the lost coin that was your spirit.
c. The prodigal son: This is one of the most famous of all biblical stories. The Father gives his son his share of the inheritance and the boy leaves home to go wild and crazy with riotous living. This can be seen as the fall of mankind. and then one day, he came to himself. Salvation! he was converted, repented, and changed direction. he arrives home to find the father waiting for him with open arms and gifts to boot.
d. Now I would just like to add a disclaimer here: The comparisons I just made to the Trinity and the three parables may not hold up theologically. That was not my goal really. Only to show that there are often things we do not see at first glance. They may or may not hold up; either way, it's fun to think about.
3.The Prodigal Son: I would like to explore this Parable by looking at it in three steps or phases.
a. Sin - Sinners look at the Gifts of God as debts due them, and remain concerned with the things of this world. They foolishly follow in the steps of Adam and Eve by ignoring God’s commandments and having desires of independence. The end results of these actions are separation from God, misuse of time, money, and talent. They will always be left wanting. In the quest for independence they become slaves to consumerism and bondage of the sin.
b. Repentance – He came to himself, or the Lord opened his eyes to the utter hopelessness of his sinful state. Seeing at last that the lowest of Heavens servants are better off then him, he quits his bondage to this world and heads home. Note here his attitude of repentance. I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight. I am not worthy to be thy son make me as one of thy hired servants. This is the right way to see yourself. Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
c. The love of God – Notice there is not a single word of rebuke. For his repentant heart, the love and grace of God was sufficient to cover all his wicked deeds. Eze 18:21-22 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Notice also that he shows up in rags, but is given the best robe. Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. He is given a ring for his finger, or a seal (such as rings were used in those times.) Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, and shoes for his feet. Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Again this may not all hold up theologically, but it looks to me like he is given a robe like unto the salvation of Christ, and the ring which is the seal of the spirit, and the shoes the protection of being prepared with the Gospel of Peace. Let’s not forget that he feeds him as well, and though it was a calf, I like to think of the significance of it being like unto the bread of life. He was starving and now he is fat with the bread that gives life. A picture of the true Christian conversion.
4.The brother
A clear representation of the Pharisees that were questioning him, the brother is jealous of everything the prodigal son is being blessed with. He will not take part in the rejoicing that is going on over the return of his own brother. In fact the father has to come out to him to plead with him and he still will not come in. He boasted over his loyalty and perfect record of never transgressing the commandments at anytime. His pride has completely blinded him just as the Pharisees listening to this story who more than likely did not even see the connection. As a last note of interest, though Jesus was answering the Pharisees with the actions of the brother, he speaks to you and me as well. Imagine this — You stay faithful at church, and give, and serve, and so on. Then some prodigal off the street walks in and everyone rejoices over him. They talk about him and invite him to all the things you never get invited to. And in your heart you cannot help but think, “I know who this guy is; he is a sinner and a publican! He is a charlatan; these people are receiving a sinner and rejoicing over him.” Of course we don’t say that, but be careful what thoughts you let into your heart. Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
