LUKE 15: For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. KEY VERSE

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1 Page 1 of 8 TESTED FAITH April 24 Lesson 8 DEVOTIONAL READING: Luke 15:1-7 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Luke 15:11-32 LUKE 15: Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, Father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them. 13 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. 20So he got up and went to his father. Photo: Enterline Design Services LLC / istock / Thinkstock But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. KEY VERSE This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24 LESSON AIMS After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to: 1. Summarize the parable of the prodigal son. 2. Identify elements of the parable that emphasize the depth of God s grace. 3. Commit to showing grace to a modern prodigal.

2 Page 2 of 8 LESSON OUTLINE Introduction A. The Prodigal Returns B. Lesson Background I. The Fall (LUKE 15:11-16) A. Receiving a Share (vv. 11, 12) B. Spending It All (vv. 13, 14) The Worst Thing to Waste C. Suffering from Hunger (vv. 15, 16) II. The Breaking Point (LUKE 15:17-20A) A. Clear Thinking (v. 17) B. Resolute Planning (vv a) The Enabling Problem III. The Homecoming (LUKE 15:20B-24) A. Father s Compassion (v. 20b) B. Son s Repentance (v. 21) C. Father s Joy (vv ) Conclusion A. To Know Better Than God B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember Introduction A. The Prodigal Returns Alan was the son of loving parents who were deeply committed Christians. Through their influence, he accepted Christ at an early age. But a family move proved to be a difficult transition for Alan, and he found himself drawn to peers whose lifestyles were at odds with his parents faith and example. By his early 20s, Alan had become not only a drug user but also a dealer. This proved to be so profitable that he decided to move to a major coastal city to expand the operation. One evening soon after the move, a police officer confronted Alan and his cronies, asking to search their car. A panicked flight ensued, but they didn t get far. Alan did not call his parents, who had been distressed for years by his decline into sin. From jail he instead called a friend; the friend contacted Alan s cousin; the cousin informed his own father; and that man broke the news to Alan s parents. Alan s father immediately drove more than three hours in the middle of the night to post bond. Through his parents efforts, Alan was restored not only to sobriety but also to Christ and family. He is certain that he would have taken his own life if his parents had not demonstrated such love. For families that have experienced the return of a prodigal child, the parable of today s lesson can have a special poignancy. But that use of the parable should be recognized as an extended application since Jesus crafted the story for a different purpose a purpose we dare not overlook. B. Lesson Background Everywhere he went, Jesus told people to prepare for the kingdom of God. But that is a complex concept, with many doctrinal and ethical implications. So Jesus used parables as illustrations. For example, the parable of the good Samaritan was more effective at communicating the ideal of neighbor-love than a philosophical discussion would have been. Reflecting the idea that such stories served to illustrate Jesus deeper teachings, parables often are oversimplified as being earthly stories with heavenly meanings. But Jesus did not use parables simply to make difficult concepts comprehensible to his audiences of common people. In fact, when multitudes gathered during the height of his popularity, Jesus used parables for exactly the opposite reason! To those crowds, he told stories that were not easily understood. Later, those truly interested would question him in a more private setting, allowing for complete explanation (see Matthew 13:10-17; Mark 4:33, 34). At other times, Jesus used parables to address Jewish leaders. These stories were often meant to be in your face tweaks aimed at their hypocrisy. In the parable told at his house, Simon the Pharisee was to understand that he was the debtor who loves little (Luke 7:47, lesson 6). The chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders were to know that the parable of the tenants was directed at them (Mark 12:1-12). The three parables in Luke 15 are similar: they were meant to be clear rebukes of pious leaders who disdained Jesus because he welcomes sinners (v. 2). I. The Fall

3 Page 3 of 8 (LUKE 15:11-16) A. Receiving a Share (vv. 11, 12) 11. Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons. Parables begin with images from common experience. This one, addressed to a hostile audience of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Luke 15:2), is quite typical in that regard. 12a. The younger one said to his father, Father, give me my share of the estate. While many parables save their twists for later, this one introduces an unexpected element at the outset. The request give me my share of the estate expresses the younger son s desire to receive that part of the inheritance he should expect after his father dies. But the father is still living! Jesus audience knows that the oldest son in a family has privileges and responsibilities that other sons do not (Genesis 25:31). One privilege is to receive a double share of the estate (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). Since the father in the story has only two sons, this means that the younger one is requesting one-third of the father s estate right now this son wants to cash out. 12b. So he divided his property between them. Those listening doubtless are struck by the disrespectful nature of the son s request, although perhaps they, like we, are aware of similar situations. Family problems are not a modern invention. The most surprising element, however, is the father s response: he agrees to give the son what he asks, with no strings attached! Viewed from any cultural perspective, this is startling indeed. The younger son does not seem to be well grounded in life, since the rest of the story implies that he s not married and has no children. Is the father being simply naïve in granting the request (Proverbs 20:21)? What should a parent consider when deciding between saying no to a child or saying yes in order to let the child learn a life lesson? Regarding relationship choices Regarding recreational choices Regarding financial decisions Other B. Spending It All (vv. 13, 14) 13. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. The story changes scenes as the younger son hits the road. If the father s actions seem surprising, the outcome does not: lacking a clear sense of direction and foresight, the son burns through his money quickly. The language of this verse leaves little room for sympathy. But it also clarifies that a motive of the younger son is that he wants to be free of his father s oversight. This is evident by the fact that the son moves to a distant country, thereby cutting family ties completely. There is no indication that the son s original request was motivated by any good or responsible purpose quite the opposite! (See Proverbs 29:3.) THE WORST THINGTO WASTE A man decided to visit his newlywed son and wife. While there, the father turned on lights and left them on as he walked throughout the house. When the son asked his father about this odd behavior, the father replied, Remember all those years when I begged you to turn off the lights and not waste the electricity? I ve just been waiting for the chance to see how you like it, now that you re paying the electricity bill! By one count, there are 2,350 verses in the Bible that address the proper and improper use of money. But money management is not what this parable is about. Neither is it intended to give hope to parents who are estranged from their children. Rather, Jesus wants the characters and their actions in the story to point to a different reality: how the wasting of one s spiritual inheritance is recognized and properly addressed. The wild living that the son embraced in exchange for his wealth the inheritance he cashed out undoubtedly includes more than one of the evil activities listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. To adopt the mind-set behind these behaviors is to forfeit one s inheritance in the kingdom of God. Some who have entangled themselves in sin s snare will come to their senses (see 1 Peter 2:25), but some will not. How is your prayer life regarding the prodigals of God s kingdom? C. R. B. This verse also gives the story its familiar name: the parable of the prodigal son. While the word prodigal is often associated with the son s decision to rebel against parental oversight and leave home prematurely, the word actually means recklessly wasteful of one s property or means. This definition therefore points to the son s poor stewardship more than his desire to cut ties with his family, although the two concepts are related here. HOW TO SAY IT

4 Page 4 of 8 Deuteronomy Due-ter-ahn-uh-me. Isaiah Eye-zay-uh. Leviticus Leh-vit-ih-kus. Pharisees Fair-ih-seez. prodigal praw-dih-gull. 14. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. Famine, generally resulting from drought, is a common occurrence in the ancient world; the word itself occurs about a hundred times in the Bible. Rapid refrigerated transportation methods, which could move food expeditiously from an area of plenty to an area of need, do not exist. Therefore, virtually no one in a famine-stricken area escapes its effects, with the poorest always being hit hardest. What lessons about money did you learn as a young(er) person that still influence you today? How do you pass these lessons along? Lessons learned from the teaching or examples of others Lessons learned by experience ( the hard way ) C. Suffering from Hunger (vv. 15, 16) 15. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. As food prices rise and his money evaporates, the wasteful son is forced to take whatever work he can find. He is reduced to the hand-tomouth existence of a day laborer. To underscore the prodigal s plight, Jesus introduces an element that is particularly troubling to Jewish people: the destitute man is hired to feed pigs unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8; see also last week s lesson on Luke 8:32). This is a serious problem for Jews, because it would be nearly impossible to honor the Law of Moses in such a context. A Gentile employer would have no concern for Jewish purity laws and certainly would have no sympathy for keeping the Sabbath. 16. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. As the famine lingers, prices continue to climb beyond a point where the meager wages of a day laborer can provide even basic sustenance. Probably never having known such severity of need in his entire life, the man now finds himself fantasizing about eating the pods he is feeding the pigs. This son from an affluent family (note the mention of hired servants in the next verse) simply cannot sink any lower. II. The Breaking Point (LUKE 15:17-20A) A. Clear Thinking (v. 17) 17. When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! Eventually, the son hits rock bottom as he longs to eat food fit for the pigs. Abandoned by fair-weather friends and living as a stranger in a foreign land, his thoughts turn to home. Whatever he previously had found to be objectionable about that earlier lifestyle suddenly doesn t seem so bad! B. Resolute Planning (vv a) 18, 19. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. The father, for his part, seems to have done nothing to cut ties. This is seen in the fact that the son does not expect that his return will be resisted. With the door seemingly left open, the prodigal assumes he can return, but with no expectation other than that of becoming one of the hired servants. How do we know when it s better to go and seek out a wayward one rather than waiting for him or her to return by personal decision?

5 Page 5 of 8 Considering the cause of the estrangement Considering personality traits Considering track record Considering the danger of enabling Other The son realizes the magnitude of what he has done, and also that he has no good way to account for what has happened to the money. The son therefore prepares a confession that he hopes will at least save his life. His self-assessment to be no longer worthy as a son is quite true in a legal sense: in accepting an early cash settlement on the estate, the son has removed himself from any obligation on his father s part to support him. He therefore cannot appeal to any rights he formerly enjoyed as an heir to his father s estate. At best, he can appeal to his father s love and ask for a job as a laborer. This will at least keep him alive. The man s assessment of his situation is realistic, and his remorse seems genuine. He has no one to blame but himself, and he knows it. 20a. So he got up and went to his father. We wonder how long the self-assessment process takes before the man hits the bricks for home the text doesn t say. Unlike both the story of Alan in our introduction and the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7, the father does not take the initiative to come looking for the son; rather, it is the other way around. THE ENABLING PROBLEM As a young man, William Griffith Wilson ( ) studied law and economics in college, but failed to graduate because he was drunk at the time of the final exam. Even so, he began working on Wall Street and soon distinguished himself with his advice to brokerage houses. But his considerable success was overcome by his heavy drinking. While in the pit of depression, Wilson was visited in 1934 by a friend whom he knew to be severely alcoholic. The friend refused the drink Wilson offered, saying that he had overcome his own drinking problem through association with a certain fellowship. One thing led to another, and Wilson founded the organization that is his legacy: Alcoholics Anonymous. He took his last drink at the age of 40 and lived sober for another 35 years. Various addiction-recovery programs recognize the problem of enabling, which involves protecting an erring person from the consequences of his or her behavior. Wilson s friend offered help without being an enabler. Neither was the father in today s parable an enabler. He did nothing to protect his son from the consequences of his wrong thinking and actions, allowing him to hit rock bottom and realize his need in the process. Jesus intended this parable to be understood in the context of his response to Pharisees and teachers of the law who were saying, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them (Luke 15:2). Those sinners, whom God had allowed to experience the earthly consequences of their sin, were ready to come home ready to return to the household of the heavenly Father. For us to be ready to welcome wayward sinners back while not enabling their error at the same time can be a tricky thing. But prayer and godly counsel can help us do so. C. R. B. III. The Homecoming (LUKE 15:20B-24) A. Father s Compassion (v. 20b) 20b. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. What better reception can the son hope for? The father s welcome is unconditional! This is another point of surprise for those listening to the story. They know that the emotions of family conflicts can take years to dissipate. Perhaps they expect the parent to reject the son outright. Perhaps they imagine the father asking for an accounting of the money and demanding restitution for the shame the son has brought to his family. None of this happens, however. How do we recognize when the return of a prodigal is genuine rather than just an attempt to manipulate? Regarding spiritual estrangements Regarding family estrangements Other B. Son s Repentance (v. 21) 21. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer

6 Page 6 of 8 worthy to be called your son. The son s words match his plan of verses 18, 19 (compare Psalm 51:4). At this point in our analysis of the parable, it s important to stress what should be obvious: Jesus is not merely telling a heartwarming story about family reconciliation, but rather the story of every person who has ever turned away from God and squandered the blessings of his love and grace. This observation explains the father s startling behavior at the outset: God might not stop a person from turning to a sinful lifestyle. But he is always ready to take back the repentant. He watches in silence as we go away, but he leaves the door open for our return. What circumstances of repentance and return call for public confession of sin? Why? Regarding sins of commission Regarding sins of omission Considering the extent of collateral damage caused by the sin Other C. Father s Joy (vv ) 22. But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Jesus now shifts full attention to the father s response. Here, the principle of the unexpected reaches its apex. Jesus emphasizes the depth of God s love and grace for the lost by highlighting the lavish nature of the father s reception of his lost son. As the son doubtless comes home dressed in rags, the father immediately offers the best robe to cover his son s shame (compare Isaiah 61:10). The ring the father offers is widely understood to be the family s signet ring. People in antiquity use such rings to impress the family crest into hot wax for signing written contracts. By giving the returning prodigal such a ring, the father implies that he is receiving him back not as a servant but as a fully vested son. The request for sandals implies that the returning son has been reduced to walking barefoot. 23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let s have a feast and celebrate. To celebrate his son s homecoming, the father immediately proceeds to organize a feast where he can reintroduce the returning one to family and friends. Those listening to the parable as Jesus tells it probably think the father is going too far. Isn t the father setting himself up to be deceived yet again? 24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. The father s words about his son being dead and lost are true in a legal sense: the son had separated himself from the family by requesting and receiving the early inheritance. That plus his absence means that for all family purposes the prodigal had been as good as dead. The focus of the verse before us lies in the fact that the father chooses to view his son as being alive again. In a relational sense, the prodigal has been reborn. Conclusion A. To Know Better Than God

7 Page 7 of 8 Visual for Lesson 8. Point to this visual as you introduce the discussion question that is associated with verses 18, 19. While the parable of the prodigal son is powerful in its own right, its application is magnified when we reconsider its context. Luke 15:1, 2 says that Jesus offered this parable in response to complaints from the Pharisees and the teachers of the law religious leaders of the day and experts on the Bible. Those folks muttered, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. The self-righteous religious leaders were looking for a Messiah who would embrace fellowship with the righteous while rejecting the unrighteous. But here was this fellow Jesus doing the opposite! The fact that Jesus was willing to receive sinners going so far as even to eat with them! served as proof to the Pharisees and teachers of the law that he didn t appreciate the importance of remaining clean. What the religious leaders seemed to have overlooked was the possibility of repentance. Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). While the parable can be viewed on a personal level in illustrating God s acceptance of repentant individuals, many students see a larger theme here: the prodigal son as representing the Gentiles. Surely the religious experts of Jesus day had read Isaiah 49:6, where God promised that his servant would not only restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel, but also was to be a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (quoted in Acts 13:47). This speaks to how we are to view people-groups today. As Jesus welcomed them, so must we. It is our Great Commission to do so (Matthew 28:19, 20). By not doing so, are we pretending to know better than God? B. Prayer Heavenly Father, people have done things that have made us angry and resentful. Help us to follow Jesus example of forgiving acceptance where repentance is real. We pray in the name of the Son who forgives us of so much. Amen. C. Thought to Remember To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Lewis B. Smedes ( )

8 Page 8 of 8 INVOLVEMENT LEARNING Into the Lesson Give each learner a copy of the following parable (or another of your choosing) that is attributed to Aesop, along with the questions that follow. The Bull and the Calf A bull was striving with all his might to squeeze himself through a narrow passage that led to his stall. A young calf came up and offered to go before and show him the way by which he could manage to pass. Save yourself the trouble, said the bull. I knew that way long before you were born. 1. Who or what does the bull represent? 2. Who or what does the calf represent? 3. What does the bull s too-large size represent? 4. What does the bull s attitude represent? 5. What is the moral to the story? Say, Take 90 seconds to read the story silently and jot first-impression responses to the questions quickly. No talking, please! After calling time, have learners voice their responses to the questions. Use the differing responses to illustrate that the challenge of parables and figurative language is to match their elements with people, places, things, etc., in real life as the author intends. Make a transition by summarizing from the Lesson Background the nature of Jesus parables, how he used them, and why. Into the Word Write the words Father and Son, widely separated horizontally, at the top of the board. Create two columns under the word Father, labeling them Actions and Statements and Motives. Do the same under the word Son. Say, In order to better understand today s parable, we will compare the actions and statements of the two main characters, but also consider what might be the motive behind each of those. Ask someone to read Luke 15: Then have learners call out the actions and statements of the father and the son and suggest possible motives for each. Jot responses on the board. Repeat this procedure for verses and then for verses Next, divide learners into groups of three or four. Give each group the following questions to answer: 1. Whom do the father and the son represent in the context of the parable as being Jesus response to his critics per Luke 15:1, 2? 2. In the same context, how do we interpret the fact that the father does not go out searching for the son, while the shepherd of 15:3-7does go out searching for a lost sheep and the woman of 15:8-10does search for her lost coin? 3. How have you seen the parable of the prodigal son misapplied? 4. How is this parable a picture of grace, as described in Ephesians 2:8, 9? Into Life Say, Unfortunately, everyone probably knows someone who has wandered away from God and is currently like the lost son when he was far from home. We need to prepare to be welcoming like the father. Discuss the phrase when he came to his senses found in Luke 15:17, noting how this was a turning point for the son. Then use the following discussion questions to brainstorm ideas: 1. How do we recognize when a spiritual prodigal has reached the point of being willing to return to God? 2. What welcome back preparations can the church make to celebrate a prodigal s return? 3. What are ways that we as individuals can show grace to spiritual prodigals in the week ahead? Option 1. Distribute copies of the Poem or Prayer of Grace activity from the reproducible page, which you can download. To keep preparation time short, encourage no more than five words per line. Allow volunteers to read theirs. Option 2. Distribute copies of Song of the Prodigal from the reproducible page. Lead the class in singing the three stanzas and/or encourage learners to keep these in their Bibles for daily devotions in the week ahead.