Bible Study - Hope (3) - Hope Personified - Luke 15:11-24 - May 4, 2014

Bible Study – Hope (3) – Hope Personified – May 4, 2014

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Let Hope In.”

Our focus scripture is Luke 15:11-24.

GOD welcomes us because of HIS deep love for us.

What is your concept of GOD? Does HE care about you? Does HE love you? Often our concept of GOD is shaped by our relationship to our earthly fathers or grandfathers.

John 3:16:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  

GOD loves you and JESUS gave HIS life just for you!

This world is not our home but JESUS told us “How Much More” than we can humanly comprehend GOD provides to those who seek a personal relationship with HIM through faith in CHRIST as recorded in Luke 11:11-13:

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

How Much More Will The Heavenly Father Give To Those Who Seek –

JESUS said it again in Matthew 6:33-34:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It is all about a Christian’s relationship to GOD through CHRIST that is important.

Our focus scripture is a parable JESUS told to a group of listeners as described in Luke 15:1-2. HE used a family for HIS example. We call it “The Prodigal Son” but we need to look at it as the extent GOD will go to for those HE who seek HIM.

There is a book written by Timothy Keller entitled “The Prodigal GOD.” Zondervan has put together a kit containing the book, discussion guide and a six session DVD which can be used as a six-week study of the parable. Information on “The Prodigal GOD” can be accessed on www.theprodigalgod.com or www.zondervan.com.

First, we need to recognize this parable is about two sons who are to be compared with each other and they are both wrong when it comes to their relationship with their father. Of course, the story depicts an earthly father but the intent of the parable was to direct those listening to see themselves either as the younger son or the elder son in their relationship to GOD as represented by the earthly father.

JESUS told three parables in Luke 15 dealing with lostness:

Luke 15:1-7 focused on a lost sheep:

JESUS’ Audience:

1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. 2 And the • Pharisees and • scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”

First notice JESUS’ audience and their opinion of HIM. JESUS wanted HIS audience to focus on their plight in life. They thought they were secure in being religious or doing their own thing. Even today, religion will not get a person to heaven. It requires a personal relationship with GOD through a faith in JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S only Son. That is not my requirement, it is GOD’S requirement. Accept it or reject it but even if you reject JESUS, JESUS is always waiting for you to see the light and hope that is in HIM.  All you have to do is reach out to JESUS, repent and accept HIM as your Savior. The Father waits for your return.

Verses 15:3-7:

3 So He told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.

The lost sheep wandered off from the flock for various reasons, such as chasing greener grass or inattention. GOD seeks those who are lost from the flock.

Luke 15:8-10 focused on a lost coin:

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ 10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

The coin was inert and was lost due to careless of the person responsible for it. Even when people are lost due to no fault of their own, GOD seeks them to restore them to Himself their rightful owner. When that happens, it is a time of joy and party time.

Let’s explore!

Freedom To Choose

Let’s read Luke 15:11-19 our focus scripture which focuses on two lost sons:

Verses 11-12:

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

The younger son was ready to leave his father. He could not wait until his father died when he would have received one-third of his father’s estate, according to Jewish law. His elder brother would have received two-thirds of his father’s estate at his father’s death. The reason the elder son would receive more was that he was expected to care for his aging mother and others still living in that household. He still had a responsibility to the father’s family. Notice that the father did not argue, he simply divided his estate and distributed it according to the Jewish law.

When a person makes up his or her mind to leave, it is little to no use trying to hold him or her back. It does not mean the father did not love his son or daughter, but he would let the son or daughter do his or her thing in hopes that one day he or she would see the value in returning home.

Verses 13-14:

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

The younger son likely converted his inherited goods into money, which took a few days. Then he was off to a “far country.” The “far country” was likely Gentile territory. The Gentiles generally lived a carefree lifestyle and not tied to strict religious principles.

He likely treated his new friends to lavish things and as most of us know, it wasn’t long before his money was gone. On top of his money being gone a famine came into that area and he was truly in dire financial circumstances. The friends he had treated lavishly had no further use for him because he was out of money. So what was a young Jewish man to do? He was reluctant to go back home because that would be admitting failure and would expose the fact that he had not used his money wisely.

Verses 15-19: Moment of Truth

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Rather than returning home and losing face, he joined himself to a Gentile citizen of that country. He would do anything to avoid returning back to the security of home and his father, which would be admitting failure.

Let’s look back to this young man’s elder brother. The elder brother had inherited his share of his father’s estate. He was now the head of the family and as such he should have taken the responsibility to go find his brother. But he didn’t. This speaks volumes of his attitude toward his young brother. The elder brother thought he was righteous and he did not want to take the chance of defiling himself by going to the far country. The elder brother represented the Jewish religious leaders, Pharisees and scribes. The young brother represented those outside the Jewish religious system.  

The young man’s employer was likely a Gentile swine farmer. He likely enjoyed sending this young Jewish man to feed swine. The swine rancher wanted it to be an embarrassment this young Jew. He wanted to rub his face in what he knew was abhorrent to a Jew but GOD meant it for the young Jew to come to his senses, acknowledge his sin and repent. Often it takes some rough roads to go down before some people decide to swallow their pride and seek forgiveness and restoration.

The young Jewish man was feeding the swine pods from the carob tree. He was so hungry they looked good to him but no one gave him carob pods. This young man was about as hungry and desperate as it gets.

GOD knew that he had to come to this point in his life before he would seek repentance and restoration. These circumstances got his attention, brought him to reality and finally to his senses.

He thought of how well his father’s servants lived versus how he was living. He repented for what he had done and rehearsed what he would tell his father. He had disowned his father and now he was removing himself as a member of his father’s family. He did not feel worthy to belong to his father’s family. He wanted to be a hired servant. So these are good thoughts but would he follow through? Let’s read on.

Love That Embraces

Let’s read Luke 15:20-21:

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

He took action and put his plan into effect. He likely rehearsed his message many times as he traveled toward home. He had likely built up in his mind that his father had disowned him and moved on with his life. His father would come down on him hard and ridicule him for lack of good judgment and so forth. Would his father give him the time of the day? Likely so many questions were running through his mind.

Keep in mind that JESUS was telling this parable to “1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. 2 And the • Pharisees and • scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” The Pharisees and scribes knew that the father in this story was GOD. They would have been incensed that GOD would lift up HIS robe and run to such a filthy, vile sinner. JESUS wanted to let all sinners know that GOD was ready to receive them home and into fellowship with HIM, regardless of how awful they think their sins are. The shed blood of JESUS cleanses the vilest sinner of all their sins when they confess them and seek the forgiveness of CHRIST. 

But guess who was eagerly waiting and watching for the repentant sinners return? His father! Wow overwhelming joy must have filled the father’s heart. His father ran to his son. For a Jewish father to run was a rare sight. It was not proper for a Jewish land owner to run. He would have to pick up his robe and show his legs but this was not the time to let modesty or tradition stand in his way. The father wanted the young son to know that he was welcome home.

The father fell around his son neck and kissed him which removed any doubt of his son-ship status. The father was likely right where his son left him. The kiss was not a peck on his son’s cheek but a kiss and more kisses. Likely, the son was dirty and smelly but what loving father would not run and embrace his son who he thought was dead and never coming home, to seeing him come down that road looking forlorn and too ashamed to look up.

This is a picture of our heavenly Father longing for us to come back to HIM. Nothing is so bad that HE cannot forgive and restore us to the joy of being HIS son or daughter when he or she repents. What a loving Savior Who waits and bids for all to come home regardless of what we have done.

The young son begins to give his speech to his father but the father had already planned for this day and what things needed to be at hand to restore his son back to his proper status as his son.

Grace That Restores

Let’s read Luke 15:22-24:

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

It is like the son was speaking but his father was not listening – bring the Best robe – put it on him – put a ring on his finger, the signet ring representing the father restoring the sons authority – shoes on his feet – servants did not wear shoes – bring the fatted calf, kill it, cook it because it is time for celebration and a party. In that day, meat was rarely served on a routine basis. The father’s son was as good as dead but he had been resurrected and restored.

There is something worse than physical death and that is Spiritual death. To be alive physically but dead to the things of GOD is the unpardonable sin. When a person has hardened his or her heart such that he or she blocks out the Spirit of GOD from wooing him or her to seek a relationship with GOD, he or she has doomed himself or herself.

Let the party began.

The elder brother heard the festive occasion and asked a servant what was going on. He told him that his young brother had returned home. Was the older brother happy?

Let’s read Luke 15:28-32:

28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Notice that the elder brother got angry and didn’t want to go in to the celebration. The elder brother’s father came out and pleaded with the elder brother. The elder brother was incensed that his wicked brother had returned and his father had welcomed him. Notice, the elder brother referred to his young brother when speaking to his father as “this son of yours.”

The elder brother had a heart and a self-righteous problem. He was just as sinful and lost as his brother. The difference being, his brother recognized his condition of sinfulness and lostness, repented and returned to the father and confessed his sin. The elder brother never saw his sinful condition.

We are all sinners and in need of salvation. Are we self-righteous or do we see that we fail to measure up to the righteous standard of GOD. Every person who has ever lived or will ever live needs to have a personal relationship with CHRIST through faith. Are you the prodigal son or daughter? Are you running away from GOD? Just know that GOD, The Father is waiting for you to repent and seek salvation through faith in CHRIST. Now is the time. Don’t wait because eternity is but a heartbeat away. Blessings!!!